Belgian Agristo was the first of the major potato processors in the EU-4 to present its contract prices. An average discount of €4 was communicated to growers in December. Depending on the delivery period, the price reduction compared to last season is slightly smaller, and sometimes slightly larger. This was the case in week 17, for example. Longer storage remains worthwhile.
Agristo was the only potato processor to do so at the beginning of December pronunciations about their strategy for the 2026-2027 potato season. They say this is to give growers the opportunity to adjust their cultivation plans in a timely manner.
Since this week, field workers have also been out on the farm with the final contract prices. For the first time in four years, contract prices have taken a significant step downward due to potato overproduction and reduced sales of finished products.
Differences in ex-country delivery
Agristo will begin processing the new harvest in week 31 (end of July). Delivery of the main crop from the field begins in week 38. Fontane starts at €13,50 per 100 kilos, and Innovator is €15,50. Those who deliver potatoes dry and cleaned from the barn will receive €0,50 more that week. "We introduced this differentiation last year, and it has had a positive effect," says Agro Director Stefanie Dumortier. "Many growers made the effort to deliver the batches without soil. The price discount was only applied in exceptional cases." Those who still ship from the field in November, or from an "outdoor silo," and deliver more than 10% soil tare will be paid the October contract prices from the field.
In week 17, the company pays €22,80 for Fontane and €25,30 for Innovator. In week 26, the payment is €25,90 for Fontane. Contracting for Innovator runs until week 23, two weeks longer than it currently is.
It was previously announced that seed potato prices are also falling, by an average of around €300 per hectare. According to the company, this decrease is in line with the contract price reduction.
Biggest drop in week 17
The price reduction compared to last year is €3,50 or €4,00 in the field segment, depending on whether the consignment is shipped dry and cleaned. In week 17, the price reduction is €4,40. In the first week of July, the discount at Fontane is €3,70.
Prices of €30 or more no longer appear in the table. The highest prices are achieved with Innovator and Markies, for which a maximum of €27,50 is paid. Starting in May, the price drop will decrease to 12% to encourage growers to use mechanical cooling for extended storage. All prices listed are ex-grower and exclude VAT. There will be no additional premiums or surcharges.
Agristo works exclusively with fixed-price contracts based on tons, not hectares. For the coming season, the company will contract an average of 20% fewer tons at a fixed price. This is to restore the balance between acreage and demand after two years of significant expansion in Europe. The final reduction can vary per grower. It depends on factors such as quality, delivery history, and the location of the factory.
Transport distance
Agristo won't be offering a general discount for long-distance transport. "We focus on growers closer to our factories. Growers located very far from the factory do receive a discount," Dumortier explains when asked. "These are usually growers with whom we are scaling down our relationships. This primarily concerns companies in Germany. This discount isn't a strategic shift; it's been in place for years. It also applies to regions in France, for example."
According to the company, the price reductions will result in growers expecting a €1.600 drop in revenue per hectare for 40 tons next season. The company hopes that the reduction in price and acreage will also lead to a broader reduction in cost prices, for example, by lowering potato lease prices. Agristo is seeing a 2,5% increase in French fry consumption globally, but the Western European French fry sector must work hard to regain its competitiveness.