Potato exports on a par with last season

During the 2025/26 season, nearly the same amount of ware potatoes was exported by the Netherlands as in the previous season. Exports to Europe were slightly larger. In particular, countries on the American continent and African countries benefited from the ample supply and low prices. The final total for the 2025 harvest year comes to 708,992 tons, which is only 0.35% less (2,517 tons) than a year earlier. It is therefore the lowest export figure since that of the 2021 harvest year. This is mainly because a particularly large quantity of potatoes crossed the border in the 2022 and 2023 harvest years. More imports of starch potatoes The import of ware and industrial potatoes is somewhat lower. For the past harvest year this was 99,504 tons, and that is the lowest figure since the 2022 harvest year. With almost 9,200 tons, the import of starch potatoes was somewhat larger. In the previous season, nearly 134,000 tons were imported. Of the major European destinations, Belgium and France bought fewer Dutch potatoes last season. The total export to our southern neighbours is 21,857 tons lower. A decrease of 5.7%, so the decline has remained relatively limited. Exports to France were 2.6% lower, good for just under 1,500 tons. Germany bought more Dutch potatoes. Exports rose by no less than 69% to 84,618 tons. This may have to do with the fact that German potato processors are once again buying (premium) potatoes in the Netherlands more often. The export volume has not been this large since 2019. Senegal drops out more often Due to the large availability of potatoes and the attractive price level, potato exports to Africa for the 2025/26 season are 10.4% higher. This concerns almost 87,000 tons, the highest volume in three seasons. Ivory Coast took 54% more potatoes, which is good for 32,351 tons. That makes it the largest African destination for the Netherlands. The volume to Mali even grew by 88% to almost 12,000 tons. Senegal still accounts for almost 15,000 tons and is therefore just the number two on the list, but exports did fall by 52%. The country is increasingly self-sufficient in potatoes. According to FAO statistics, the country had more than 6,000 hectares of potatoes in 2024. In 2000, that was still 730 hectares. Since then, yields have also doubled, to an average of 24 tons per hectare in 2024, which is a record. Belgium and France also exported less this season. This concerns 43% and 28% less. Remarkably, sales prices were slightly higher last year, with an average of €146 per ton for the Netherlands, according to international trade data. Of the countries on the American continent, to which exports were almost 10% higher at 62,133 tons, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Barbados in particular took somewhat more potatoes.