Germany anticipates a potentially record-breaking potato harvest in 2025, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture announced this week. Preliminary official data suggests a yield of 13.4 million tonnes, a substantial increase compared to the already strong 2024 harvest and 17% above the multi-year average. The last time yields were comparable was in 2000.
The area dedicated to potato cultivation has expanded by 6.7% compared to the previous year, reaching 301,000 hectares – the largest area devoted to potato farming since the beginning of the new millennium. This expansion, coupled with anticipated high yields per hectare, is driving expectations for a significant overall production.
The average yield per hectare is currently projected to reach approximately 44 tonnes, a figure nearly 5% above the multi-year average, though slightly below the excellent performance of 2024 (a reduction of 1%).
Favorable growing conditions have contributed to this promising outlook. A sufficiently wet winter was followed by a warm, dry spring, enabling planting under optimal conditions. While some regions have experienced a lack of moisture, the early harvest of new potatoes was possible where conditions allowed, with irrigation utilized where feasible. Rainfall commencing in July offered relief from the dry conditions of May and June, although it also led to increased disease pressure.
The expected ample harvest is already impacting market dynamics. Producer prices for new potatoes started 2025 at a significantly lower level than in previous years. Currently, growers are receiving approximately one-third less for their main-crop potatoes compared to last year. Consumers have noticed a corresponding decrease, with supermarket prices for potatoes in August 2025 being roughly 15% lower than in August 2024.
