Preliminary data from the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture indicates the potential for a potato harvest in 2025 to be the most abundant in over two decades. The projected yield is estimated at 13.4 million tonnes, a 5.3% increase compared to the already strong performance of 2024 and 17% above the multi-year average. The last comparable year of such a plentiful harvest was 2000.
Contributing to this anticipated record is a significant expansion of cultivated area, which has grown by 6.7% compared to the previous year. The total area dedicated to potato farming now stands at 301,000 hectares, marking the largest cultivation area since the turn of the millennium.
Beyond the increased land usage, productivity per hectare is also expected to play a crucial role. Initial projections estimate an average yield of approximately 44 tonnes per hectare, slightly below the particularly strong yield of 2024 (-1%), but still above the multi-year average.
Favorable growing conditions throughout 2025 have underpinned this positive outlook. Following a sufficiently wet winter, a warm and dry spring facilitated optimal planting conditions and within the typical timeframe. While some regions experienced limited rainfall later in the season, the early harvest of new potatoes was possible and irrigation was utilized where feasible. The rainfall beginning in July provided relief for moisture levels, though also increased disease pressure.
The substantial expected harvest is already impacting market dynamics. Producer prices for early potatoes in 2025 began at a considerably lower level than in previous years. Farmers are currently receiving approximately one-third less for their main crop potatoes compared to last year. Consequently, consumers have observed a roughly 15% decrease in the price of potatoes in supermarkets when compared to August 2024.