Arable farmers in northern France have grown significantly more French fries this year. Combined with excellent yields per hectare, this results in a 16% larger harvest this year. This is according to a survey by the French potato organizations UNPT and CNIPT. The yield is therefore higher than the Ministry of Agriculture's estimate.
Last month, the French agricultural statistics agency Agreste estimated the potato harvest to be 200.000 tons smaller than previously estimated, due to an adjustment in the area figures. In their latest estimate, issued in mid-December, that area remains at 196.000 hectares, rounded up for ware potatoes. This brings the total potato harvest to 8,32 million tons, an increase of 11,3% compared to 2024 and even a quarter more than the five-year average.
More hectares
The French potato growers' organization UNPT and the national potato organization CNIPT have surveyed their members about this year's potato harvest. Their results yield slightly different figures than those used by the government. They also publish figures by department. The five largest growing areas, in northern, western, and central France, together account for almost 173.000 hectares. The rest of the country accounts for another 14.503 hectares, bringing the total estimated by the two organizations to 187.489 hectares. This represents a substantial increase of 25.884 hectares, or 16%, by 2024.
This also applies to the area in the main growing regions, where it increased by 16,4%. There are differences between departments, however. For example, potato production in Picardy grew by a quarter, and in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, potatoes were grown by 16%. At 64.530 hectares, this remains the largest growing region, followed by Picardy's 57.287 hectares.
Lower hectare yield
According to growers themselves, the yield per hectare in the major growing areas averages 45 tons per hectare. This is 800 kg less than last year's harvest. This brings the harvest volume to 7,79 million tons of potatoes, 14,7% more than last year's harvest. Across France, the organizations estimate the yield at 8,58 million tons.
Yields vary slightly by department, depending on growing conditions. For example, the yield per hectare in Nord-Pas-de-Calais is 4% lower this year (42,2 tons/ha), and the yield in Champagne-Ardenne is also lower. Conversely, in Picardy, an average of 5% more was harvested.
Cultivation grows three times faster than processing
The French potato industry has high ambitions when it comes to expanding its processing capacity. This requires more potatoes: 5% per year. Growers have responded en masse to the calls from factories in recent years. Coupled with low grain and beet prices, French fries offered an attractive alternative. For example, the area will increase by 24.000 hectares (15,6%) in 2024 and by 25.884 hectares (16%) in 2025. The growth in cultivation will therefore be triple the growth in processing, which, incidentally, is also increasing. certainly not running badly!
Farmers across the country have certainly sown more grain. According to government figures, wheat acreage increased by 2,3% to 4,6 million hectares. This is comparable to the five-year average. Barley acreage increased by 3,1% to 1,23 million hectares, and rapeseed by 6,4% to 1,34 million hectares. Favorable sowing conditions contributed significantly to this increase.
The harsh reality is that a significant correction is needed in the short term (2026 and 2027) to restore balance to the sector. This will affect the acreage and harvest on the one hand, and processing, coupled with demand for potato products, on the other. How this will work out in practice remains unclear for now, as factories have hardly submitted any contracts yet.
Volume reduction
The initial signs are not very positive, according to insiders. Besides price reductions, the volume to be delivered is being reduced. This is affecting growers across the EU-4, but likely even more so in parts of France. In the most extreme cases, there are talks of a 50% volume reduction per grower when the transport distance to the buyer is long and when the potato quality was previously inadequate. Storage, dry loading, and cleaning options also play a role in buyers' decisions.
It's a tough blow for potato growers in the country. Barely a year ago, all signals were still green. Clarebout built a brand-new factory in Dunkirk and has already increased capacity there once. McCain has been modernizing its three French factories for some time. The Belgian company Ecofrost began construction in the spring of 2024 on a new French fry factory in Péronne, which is scheduled to be operational in March 2026, with a capacity of 400.000 tons of fries per year. The other Belgian company, Agristo, temporarily halted construction of its new factory in early October. Work is reportedly set to resume.