European potato growers slash planting area by 11%

European potato producers have reduced the area planted with table potatoes by about 11% after a year of record low spot prices of €0‑2 per 100 kg. The North‑Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) association, which had urged a cut in supply, sees the decline confirmed in official data: Belgium (-16.6%), the Netherlands (-15.1%), France (-9.7%) and an estimated 11% drop in Germany.

The total cultivated area is expected to fall from 604,100 ha to 536,900 ha in the 2026 season, a loss of roughly 67,000 ha. Processors are offering contract prices around €12.50 per 100 kg, far below rising production costs for fertilizer, fuel, energy and machinery, threatening the profitability of many farms. NEPG warns that such low prices could endanger the whole potato sector unless a more balanced pricing system is adopted.