The cultivation of early potatoes in Spain is showing an upward trend. Recent figures from the Ministry of Agriculture show that both the area and the expected yield will increase this season. The area is growing especially in regions such as Andalusia, Murcia and the Comunidad Valenciana.
The total Spanish area for early (and extra early) potatoes amounts to 15.742 hectares this year, which represents a growth of 3,3% compared to the 15.222 hectares in 2024. The largest part of this area, namely 13.530 hectares, is intended for early potatoes. An increase of 3,2% compared to the 13.195 hectares last year. In addition, the area for extra early potatoes is estimated at 2.212 hectares, an increase of 4,5% compared to the previous year, according to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The expected harvest of extra early potatoes is 55.951 tonnes, also an increase of 4,5% compared to the 53.556 tonnes harvested in 2024. This results in an average yield of 25,3 tonnes per hectare, which is comparable to last year.
In Andalusia, the area of early potatoes has increased by 0,7% to 5.019 hectares. Murcia has recorded an increase of 3,2%, reaching 3.200 hectares. In the Valencian Community, the area of early potatoes has increased by 7,4% to 1.562 hectares, while in the Canary Islands, growth of 2,3% was recorded, bringing the total to 1.798 hectares. Galicia has recorded the greatest increase, with an increase of 20% to 1.267 hectares.
At the same time, exports of Dutch seed potatoes to Spain increased by 2,9% to 39.602 tonnes in the period from July to the end of February, compared to 38.435 tonnes in the same period a year earlier, according to figures from the Dutch Potato Organisation (NAO). This confirms the estimates of the Ministerio de Agricultura.