Good afternoon, everybody!

As we have commented in our previous articles, weather conditions in Europe in recent weeks have had very negative effects on potato plantations.

According to the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, the area of new potatoes in Spain has been reduced by 5%. In addition, it is expected to be much higher, reaching up to 15% in some regions. In Aragon, for example, the situation is worrying: almost 90% of the area devoted to potato planting has been lost. In order to improve the situation and find new alternatives, the regional government, with the help of researchers and experts from the Centro de Procesamiento Agroalimentario (CTA), has decided to grow the Agria potato, being one of the most suitable varieties for frying and constitutes a strong demand on the market.

Unfavourable climatic conditions in Andalusia during March and April are likely to reduce potato yields per hectare in this region. However, in Cartagena (Murcia), harvesting will normally take place and harvesting will begin soon.

In France, a reduction in surface area is also expected, even if it is not as drastic. The figures of the latest transactions shared on our blog are significant: Spain is the leading potato importer in France.

According to FEPEX, the total potato area in Spain this year will be about 74 000 hectares, meaning that cultivation continues to decline due to Spanish imports, which in 2016 increased to nearly 800 000 tonnes.