Factory gate closes, grower left with record stock

Potato processors in France are slowly winding down and are preparing for a long summer break. This is particularly bad news for potato growers, who still have full stores. Never before has the potato stock been this large, stock figures show. On 1 May, French potato growers still had 1.85 million tonnes of ware potatoes in stock. This is divided into 1.43 million tonnes of processing potatoes and 417,000 tonnes of table potatoes. That was calculated by the potato growers' organisation UNPT. Never before has the potato stock been this large. Last year, there were 1.19 million tonnes in storage on the same date, which was also a record. The stock is therefore 29% larger than a year earlier. Fewer table potatoes So it is mainly processing potatoes that are still in storage. The stock of table potatoes is 48,000 tonnes smaller than a year ago, but still very large. Table potato growers have managed better to sell product at low prices, for example to neighbouring Spain and Eastern Europe. With processing potatoes, that is a different story. On the one hand, processors have no need at all for free potatoes. On the other hand, French growers have so far not been willing to give away product for zero euros. Potato processors in the country have announced that they will take a longer summer break in July. Among others, McCain is carrying out maintenance at the various production sites. This means that July will be a month with a relatively low processing figure, although of course not all factories will be shut at the same time. In August, old potatoes will certainly still be processed, but it remains to be seen how sufficient the product quality will be then. Every extra week in storage costs money, especially on hot summer days, so the question is whether French farmers will mass empty the stores with unsold potatoes. 1.11 million tonnes surplus Last season, the French industry processed 321,000 tonnes of potatoes in the months of May, June and July, after which 410,000 tonnes remained at the end of season 2025/26 to be processed or given another destination. If the same pace can be maintained, then the surplus of processing potatoes on 1 August amounts to 1.11 million tonnes. An unimaginable quantity of potatoes, but close to the 1 million tonnes that UNPT communicated at the beginning of this year. All tonnes that must go to animal feed, digestion or simply back onto the land after harvest. Last season, 81,000 tonnes were still bought freely and 412,000 tonnes were imported. Up to 1 May, this now concerned 19,000 tonnes of free potatoes and 393,000 tonnes of imports. In the most positive scenario, a little more contract potatoes can still be processed because there are far fewer free kilos and slightly less import. Export 4% larger The French processing industry is doing relatively well compared with other countries in the EU-5. In March, almost 75,000 tonnes of fries were exported, compared with 66,000 tonnes in March last year. In the first quarter, companies exported 189,121 tonnes. That is 4% more than the 182,257 tonnes that were exported during the first quarter of 2025. No other European country matches France in this. Fries prices have fallen sharply, from €1,250 per tonne at the beginning of last year to €1,070 in March 2026. A decrease of 14%. In France too, the acreage of early processing potatoes has been significantly reduced. Exactly how much, estimates vary. One insider speaks of a halving, while another puts it at a maximum of 20%. According to insiders, the transition between the old and new harvest is a major challenge for chip producers. The potato quality of potatoes is very disappointing, which is reflected in the product quality. The new harvest will still take some time, creating a gap between the two periods. Demand for processing potatoes There are hardly any buyers for processing potatoes, not even for zero euros. Growers of table and export potatoes sometimes still receive an offer, but buyers are picky. They demand top quality and the product must be sorted and delivered in, for example, big bags. Trade to Spain and Portugal is starting to dry up because their own harvest is becoming more widely available there, but there is demand for large Fontane, Agria and Markies for fresh fries. For Fontane, €7 to €8 per 100 kilos is being offered, while Agria prices are between €14 and €16. Markies sits between the two varieties. Other varieties, especially those with firm flesh, mostly remain in their own country or elsewhere in Western Europe. As in the other Western European countries, the French potato sector has a difficult puzzle to solve in order to end the current season. Despite good fries exports, the stock continues to trouble the sector. Whether the new season will start with more breathing room depends heavily on the growing season. The acreage has shrunk by a few percent, but whether this will be sufficient remains to be seen. Ultimately, the hectare yields have the final say.