EU: Potato harvest estimates turn the Netherlands and Belgium red

Published Jul 23, 2024

Tridge summary

The latest monthly Mars report reveals a slight reduction in the estimated potato yield for this year, now at 35.1 tons per hectare, which is 1 percent below the five-year average but still within the normal harvest range. Wet conditions in Belgium and the Netherlands caused planting delays, leading to lower yield expectations in these countries, as well as in France and Germany. Specifically, yields in the Netherlands and Belgium are 6 percent below the five-year average, falling outside the normal range. Conversely, Italy stands out with a 5 percent higher yield than the five-year average. Overall, three-quarters of the EU's potato yield is considered average, though some regions are experiencing lower yields.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

In the monthly Mars report, the crop monitoring committee lowered this year's potato yield estimate to 35.1 tons per hectare. That is a fraction (1 percent) lower than the five-year average. The result does fall within the bandwidth of a normal harvest. In May, the organization predicted a hectare yield of 36.8 tons of potatoes. Delay in planting due to wet conditions in Belgium and the Netherlands was already a reason for a reduction in June, to 35.8 tons per hectare. Yield expectations for France and Germany in particular have been adjusted downwards this month. In France the estimate has been lowered to 39.4 tons per hectare, while in June 41 tons were still taken into account. In Germany, the expected yield drops to 41.1 tons per hectare. Outside normal bandwidth The Mars report notes an average harvest of 39.5 tons of consumption, seed and starch potatoes for the Netherlands. This means that the yield is 6 percent lower than last year and the five-year average. This means ...

Source: Nieuwe Oogst