León potato campaign begins with prices up to 360 euros per tonne

The potato campaign has commenced at the Lonja Agropecuaria de León, with prices ranging between 310 and 360 euros per tonne depending on the variety. The Kennebec variety is currently the highest valued at 360 euros per tonne, followed by Agria at 330 euros.

This pricing is viewed as an acceptable level that may help offset an expected decline in production. European potato production is projected to drop from 27 million tonnes in 2025 to just over 20 million tonnes this year. This reduction is attributed to a 14% decrease in planted areas following a period of overproduction in 2025, as well as significant heatwaves during the summer that impacted yields.

In France, the primary European producer, yields have decreased by an average of more than eight tonnes per hectare. In León, the area dedicated to potato cultivation has decreased from 1,354 hectares last year to 1,210 hectares in the current campaign. There are also concerns regarding the commercialization of smaller tubers in Northern Europe, which may pose challenges for the processing industry.