Polish potato area unlikely to shrink by double digits

Despite the fact that Poland did not have a record area or quantity of potatoes in 2025, there is still a slump in the potato market. Nevertheless, the total area is not expected to shrink by double digits this year. The total potato area in Poland amounted to 214,000 hectares last year (+9%), according to new figures from the national statistics office Główny Urząd Statystyczny, (GUS). With an average yield of 32.7 tonnes per hectare, that resulted in a potato volume of 7 million tonnes (+18%). This is the largest potato volume since 2021, when a similar harvest was achieved. Sharp decline That means the Polish figures differ from those in the EU-4. The area did grow by 9% last year, but on average it is still relatively small. Potato cultivation in Poland has gone through a remarkable development. Until the 1990s, almost every farm grew a patch of potatoes. For own consumption, animal feed or vodka production. That resulted in more than 1.5 million growers and an area of 1.7 million hectares. Even when the country joined the EU in 2004, the area still amounted to 800,000 hectares and 15 million tonnes of potatoes. Average yields have doubled since the 1990s. For potatoes for fries, that average is considerably higher. The years of decline reached an absolute low point in 2023 with 188,000 hectares and 5.5 million tonnes of potatoes. The country then counted about 220,000 potato growers. Since then, the area and harvest volume have recovered somewhat. The return on potatoes could compete better with wheat, maize and rapeseed. Level 2024 The statistics office GUS, and also the potato organisation SPZ, have not yet released area figures for 2026. However, some estimates have been voiced by the sector. These assume a decline of about 5%, although there are also outliers of 10% or more. That amounts to an area of 203,300 to 192,600 hectares. This could bring total cultivation slightly below the level of 2024. Ultimately, it is the yield that determines where the harvest will end up. At the five-year average of 30.6 tonnes per hectare, 5% means 5.89 to 6.22 million tonnes of potatoes. There too, the lower end is at the level of 2024. Decline not desired According to SPZ, further contraction of the sector is not desired. Historically, the potato has been an important crop for Polish agriculture. If cultivation shrinks, the door automatically opens to more imports. That is also visible in season 2025/26, especially with cheap German processing potatoes and table potatoes finding their way to Poland. The industry (fries, chips and starch) needs 2.5 to 3 million tonnes of potatoes annually, SPZ estimates. Seed potato cultivation also increased significantly last year. SPZ sees this as a positive signal, because the sector then becomes less dependent on imports. This season the Netherlands exported 3,884 tonnes of seed potatoes to Poland up to 1 May, compared with 9,577 tonnes last year. A decline of almost 60%. This season total industrial processing amounts to 2.3 million tonnes, according to SPZ. With 990,000 tonnes, the starch industry has grown somewhat again, followed by fries production with 578,000 tonnes. The chips industry accounts for 371,000 tonnes and dried products (granulate) for 129,000 tonnes. Finally, alcohol production comes to 55,000 tonnes and other destinations to 18,000 tonnes. Demand for table potatoes The table potato market started last summer at a low level, but managed to improve considerably until the beginning of this year. Prices started during the harvest period at the equivalent of €12 per 100 kilos and were at €28 for sorted and packed at the beginning of February. Consumption of table potatoes continues to decline year on year and now amounts to 60 kilos per person per year. Including fries and other potato snacks, that is 85 kilos per person per year. That means the Poles consume a lot of potatoes and potato products. The growing season started very unevenly this spring. It was cold for a long time, which meant planting took place somewhat later than usual. Despite drought, plenty of sun ensured that the harvest of early potatoes got underway quickly at the end of May. In the main harvest, relatively many diseases and defects are being found, such as rotten seed potatoes, problems with Colorado beetles and phytophthora. A top yield like in 2025 is therefore not expected.