Rising transport costs, CO₂ pricing and mounting infrastructure challenges dominated discussions at the 72nd Potato Autumn Get-together, organised by the German Potato Trade Association (DKHV) on September 23 in Hamburg. Around 130 representatives from trade, logistics, science and politics attended to examine how the industry can safeguard supply chains at a time when Europe is expecting a particularly large harvest.

Market dynamics under pressure from strong yields

In his opening remarks, DKHV President Thomas Herkenrath noted that favourable weather and expanded cultivation areas are set to deliver a strong potato crop across Germany and Europe. While large parts of the table and processing market are secured by contracts, volumes produced outside fixed agreements face mounting pressure amid weaker international demand. With much of the crop still in the ground, weather remains a critical factor that could reshape both yields and quality.

Herkenrath emphasised that such developments reflect a cyclical market pattern. “Consumers benefit from high quality at attractive prices, while we work to secure sustainable returns for farmers. Our sector has successfully navigated similar situations in the past, and I am confident we will do so again this year,” he said.

Policy and logistics constraints

Herkenrath underlined the importance of political and regulatory certainty, particularly in transport. “This year’s big harvest makes clear how vital functioning transport routes are,” he said.

Wiechert Steert of BALD Logistics highlighted the efficiency gains possible through lighter trailers and called for greater alignment across the EU. While many member states permit 44-ton trucks, Germany continues to restrict weight to 40 tonnes. Harmonisation, he argued, would ease bottlenecks during peak harvest periods.

Cost implications of CO₂ pricing

Adding an academic perspective, Prof. Dr. Hanno Friedrich of Kühne Logistics University in Hamburg warned that transport costs will continue to rise as CO₂ pricing and the EU’s forthcoming Emissions Trading System (EU ETS 2) take effect. The impact will be most severe for conventional diesel vehicles, which continue to dominate potato haulage. With logistics already highly seasonal and flexible, this presents a structural challenge—especially in years of bumper harvests.

Looking ahead: opportunities and collaboration

Despite the strains, participants pointed to opportunities in alternative propulsion systems, digital route planning and intermodal solutions. Herkenrath concluded that competitiveness could only be safeguarded through joint effort: “Our goal is to become even more competitive, not only in transport but across the entire value chain. That can only be achieved together: within the association, across industry boundaries, with customers and farmers, as well as with the carriers and logisticians who move our potatoes every single day.”

The event closed with open dialogue and networking, confirming the Potato Autumn Get-together as a fixture in the industry calendar where long-standing traditions meet forward-looking strategies.