Preliminary data from the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture indicates a potential potato harvest in 2025 that could be the most abundant in 25 years. Initial estimates suggest a yield of 13.4 million tonnes, surpassing the already strong 2024 harvest by 5.3 percent and exceeding the multi-year average by 17 percent. The last comparable harvest occurred in 2000.
This year has also seen an expansion of potato cultivation, with the area planted increasing by 6.7 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 301,000 hectares – the largest area dedicated to potato farming since the turn of the millennium.
Contributing to the anticipated record harvest is the yield per hectare, which is projected to average approximately 44 tonnes per hectare nationwide. This represents a slight increase of nearly 5 percent above the multi-year average, although marginally below the exceptionally strong yield recorded in 2024 (a decrease of 1 percent).
Favorable vegetation conditions have significantly contributed to the positive outlook. Following an adequately wet winter, a warm and dry spring allowed for planting under optimal conditions and within the normal planting timeline. While regional rainfall deficits occurred subsequently, early potato harvests were possible, with irrigation utilized where feasible. The onset of rain in July following a period of dry and hot conditions in May and June provided relief for moisture levels, although it also heightened the potential for disease.
The substantial projected potato harvest is already influencing market dynamics. Producer prices for early potatoes in 2025 started at a notably lower level than in previous years. Currently, potato farmers are receiving approximately one-third less for their processing potatoes compared to the previous year. Consumers have observed a roughly 15 percent reduction in the price of potatoes in supermarkets when comparing August 2025 to August 2024.
