The European open-market price for potatoes has fallen to its lowest level in recent memory, with a tonne fetching just €15 compared to €150 a year ago, according to Belgian agricultural organisation Boerenbond.

Industry experts say the collapse is driven by a combination of abundant supply and sharply reduced industrial demand. Favourable weather conditions across north-western Europe have produced a bumper harvest, but processors report no appetite for additional volumes.

“At this price, you can’t even cover the harvesting costs,” said Pieter Van Oost, an expert with Boerenbond for Brussel Times. The organisation estimates that while one hectare of potatoes currently generates around €600 in revenue at open-market prices, production costs — including seed, fertiliser, pest control and harvesting — can reach €6,000 per hectare.

The downturn has been particularly severe for early potatoes, which are now being harvested. These varieties must be processed immediately as they cannot be stored. Around 60–70% of early potatoes are sold under pre-agreed contracts to processors, mainly frozen fry manufacturers. These contracts, negotiated at the end of last year when the industry was performing strongly, still cover production costs. However, the remainder of the crop enters the open market, where prices are dictated by oversupply.

Boerenbond reports that Belgian, German, and Dutch processors require 500,000 tonnes less pre-cooked potato products this season than last. The reasons remain unclear, though industry sources point to increased competition from Asian producers, particularly in China and India, as well as currency and trade pressures. A strong euro is making EU frozen fries less competitive in export markets, while ongoing trade tensions are also weighing on sales.

The early potato segment represents only a fraction of total European output. The bulk of the harvest — storage potatoes, which can be kept until late spring — will be lifted from late September onwards. Current field conditions suggest these later crops will also deliver high yields, raising the prospect of continued pressure on open-market prices well into 2026.