Potato acreage in north-western Europe has expanded far more rapidly than foreseen earlier this year, raising concerns over potential market imbalances.

According to preliminary figures cited by Boerderij from the North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG), potato plantings in France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have grown by around 50,000 hectares compared with 2024. Earlier forecasts had suggested an increase of only half that amount.

In Germany, the cultivated area reached 301,000 hectares in 2025, up 19,000 hectares or 6.7% from the previous year. While the starch potato segment has contracted, ware potato production has grown substantially. France registered an expansion of between 10.3% and 13% depending on the source, representing an additional 18,500 to 24,000 hectares.

Belgium also set a new record, with potato area up 7.4% to 111,400 hectares, according to Belgapom. Of this, nearly 108,000 hectares are ware potatoes, an increase of 7,500 hectares year on year. The Netherlands recorded 83,100 hectares of ware potatoes this season, 6,600 hectares (8.6%) more than last year.

NEPG plans to release updated figures at the Potato Europe exhibition in September. The federation noted that the surge in acreage has occurred a decade earlier than projections for 2035, raising the prospect of oversupply. Already, reports indicate that parts of the crop are being diverted to biogas plants and animal feed.