The 8 factors shaping the seed potato market

The seed potato world is not immune to the situation in the ware potato market. The effects are felt with some delay. Figures show that most of the changes are within the EU. This is partly offset by slightly higher export to overseas destinations. Should the seed potato sector also adapt to a changing market in the coming years? In this article we we outline the eight key factors shaping the seed potato market. 1. Export of seed potatoes in the EU-4 is highly variable Exports of seed potatoes to the other EU-4 countries have so far been considerably lower this season. The most recent figures from the NAO (up to 1 April 2026) show that Belgium took 7% less seed potatoes and Germany even 38% less than in the same period last year. Exports to France have remained virtually unchanged. Compared with the five-year average, the volumes are higher. The 67,286 tonnes that Belgium took is 2% more than the average. For France, with 31,178 tonnes, it is even 15.2% more. Here too Germany is the negative outlier. The 34,753 tonnes taken is almost 40% less than the five-year average. 2. Imports across Europe are declining Outside these neighboring countries, exports of seed potatoes have also declined. So far this season, Spain has imported more than a quarter less seed potatoes from the Netherlands. The volume of 35,932 tonnes is almost 12% less than the five-year average. For Portugal, exports are a comparable 22% lower and to Italy this is 13%. Other larger European destinations, such as Greece and Romania, show a similar picture. That is consistent with reports that the acreage, especially in Southern Europe, is shrinking sharply this year as a result of the negative market situation. 3. Africa as a positive exception A positive exception to the rule are the African destinations. Dutch trading houses managed to export 9,586 tonnes more seed potatoes to African countries up to 1 April. An increase of 5.9% compared with last season. Africa is becoming increasingly important for trading companies, with 9.1% more export than the five-year average. 4. Payout prices more than doubled The contract prices for processing potatoes reached their highest level ever in 2025. Results of the seed potato trading houses lag slightly behind that, but there is also a very strong upward trend visible there. As with ware potatoes, this is partly a result of increased demand and cost price. Agrico and HZPC have achieved a better financial result four years in a row. Despite the fact that part of the seed potatoes from the 2025 harvest could not be sold through this channel, the financial expectations for the current season are still reasonably good. 5. Free market prices are much lower The free market prices for Spunta, Agria and Bintje react almost immediately to developments in the potato market. The latest quotation for Spunta class E 35/55 (week 3) came to €15.50 per 100 kilos. Prices for this grade are only quoted sporadically. Class A 28/55 came in week 5 to €14.50 compared with €92 in the same week a year earlier. Agria shows a similar picture. The latest quotation of €17.50 is €47.50 lower than a year ago. For Bintje class A, the current price of €22.50 is even €57.50 below the same week last year. 6. Much more processing potato varieties Almost all major processing potato varieties show growth in starting material in the Netherlands. In 2024 and 2025, seed potato companies have significantly increased the acreage. This is especially visible for Fontane, Agria and Innovator. Last year Fontane even reached 6,048 hectares. That is a doubling in nine years. Agria reached 3,316 hectares and that is also a record. Ten years ago it was 1,870 hectares. Innovator has actually shrunk. The 2,215 hectares is 273 hectares less than in the peak year 2019. 7. More starting material for own use The acreage of seed potatoes for own use has also steadily increased according to NAK figures. In 2024, a considerable jump was noticeable, when there was a shortage of seed potatoes. The share of ATR seed potatoes amounted to 2,139 hectares last year. Ten years ago that was 965 hectares. A growth of 122%. With the release of various important processing varieties, this share will most likely only increase. In Belgium, the acreage of seed potatoes increased by 10% last year to 3,324 hectares. How large the share of farm seed potatoes (seed potatoes for own use) is, is not known. This has also increased sharply in recent years. 8. Diverging picture in Europe The EU-4 countries have long been trying to become more self-sufficient in their starting material. Germany showed a strong increase in the last two years, but in France it is exactly the opposite. There, cultivation reached a ceiling in 2022. There too the acreage is probably moving in a different direction this year. Conclusion: pressure on price and acreage The major potato trading houses have now announced that they will reduce the acreage of processing potato varieties this year. It was precisely there that there was strong growth in recent years. The current market situation certainly has an impact on payout prices, but the effect is partly dampened. The seed potatoes have largely found a market, although less and less so within the EU-4. Especially Africa has so far taken more product. Like their ware potato colleagues, seed potato growers also have to deal with rising costs. Although the labor-intensive sector is increasingly benefiting from new technology, this does require enormous investments that are currently only profitable for large companies. In recent years, seed potato prices have risen with the cost level, creating sufficient room for investment. How this will be for 2025/26 and the near future is still very uncertain. Competition on the global export market plays a smaller role. It is mainly the developments in (North) Europe that are steering the sector in a different direction.