The shortage in planting and the emergence of Egypt as a supplier mark the potato campaign in Spain

The potato is the product within the fruit and vegetable sector most imported by Spain. With more than one million tons imported in 2023, a figure equivalent to 55% of what is produced, it is a topic of special relevance for the FEPEX Potato Committee, which has met to analyze the forecasts for the campaign and the evolution of the foreign trade. According to data provided by ICEX, Spanish potato imports grew by 2% in volume and 29% in value, spending €472 million on their purchase. France continues to be the main supplier of potatoes in our country, since it markets 70% of what is imported, followed by the Netherlands, which supplies 8.5%, Portugal (5%) and Egypt (4.6%). Precisely this last country has burst into Europe with force, “being a new competitor in the national early potato market,” they point out. In our country, in the last year the purchase of Egyptian potatoes has multiplied by six both in volume, acquiring 50,488 t, and in value (€24.97 M). In this way, Egypt has ...