The Expana Benchmark Price (EBP) for Dutch processing potatoes rose to £165/MT, marking an 18% month-on-month increase on the 3rd of December. This 2024/25MY seasonal price rise aligns with the typical trend as farmers store their potatoes after harvest, driving up prices. However, the current price is 20% lower year-on-year (y-o-y), reflecting a more successful harvest compared to the wet 2023 harvest. Although that is not to say the 2024 harvest went smoothly according to the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) "harvesting was done in very difficult and expensive conditions".
According to the NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers), the average yield across the four NEPG countries in this year's harvest that concluded in November stands at 43.8 tonnes/ha, marginally below the 5-year average of 44.4 tonnes/ha, and last year's yield of the same figure. Despite slightly lower yields, overall potato quality has been described as "good" by the NEPG. The total cultivated area in the EU-4 region had an increase of 37,700 ha (+7.2%), boosting production by 6.9% y-o-y to reach 24.6 million tonnes (+1.6 million tonnes).
Some of the challenges farmers faced included rainfall that delayed planting and harvesting, while prolonged wet conditions created one of the highest late blight pressures within the NEPG region in recent years. Additionally, average production costs rose significantly in 2024, surpassing 2023 levels by €1,000/ha, with some growers facing even higher expenses the NEPG stated. Contributing factors included increased costs for seed handling (e.g., cutting, chitting, drying, and cooling), intensified late blight control measures, and rising storage expenses, compounded by higher building and machinery costs.
Concerns are growing over the sustainability of potato farming in the EU. Rising risks and costs may deter smaller growers from continuing production, potentially leading to a decline in overall cultivation. Industry sources indicate a trend toward consolidation, with potato farming increasingly concentrated among fewer, larger, and better-equipped operations. These growers are more capable of managing the financial and operational challenges inherent in potato production.
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