France potato acreage falls nearly 10% in 2025 amid market oversupply

France’s total potato‑cropping area contracted by 9.7% in the 2025 season, according to Agreste data released on June 1. The decline equals about 18,700 ha, reducing the combined area for fresh and processing potatoes to roughly 173,400 ha, down from 192,100 ha the prior year.

The shrinkage follows a 2025 market oversupply and an uncertain economic environment that created a demand‑supply imbalance for the 2025/2026 sales year. Farmers responded by adjusting crop rotations, especially in regions focused on industrial processing. The most affected zones include Hauts‑de‑France, Centre‑Val de Loire, Normandy and Grand‑Est, which together account for about 61% of France’s food‑potato production. UN agencies cautioned that the decline may be under‑reported in certain segments, such as new‑potato varieties. Recent water shortages and heat waves could further limit yields.

The trend reverses several years of steady growth and signals challenges for the French potato sector amid broader geopolitical and economic uncertainties.