Extreme Heat Cuts Potato Yield in France
· Bloomberg HT
France anticipates a 23% drop in its main potato harvest compared to last year due to extreme heat and drought.
Production and Yield Loss in France
Extreme heat and drought experienced in France during the summer months have led to a significant loss in potato harvest. According to a statement from the producer organization UNPT, the country's main potato production is expected to decrease by 23% compared to last year. This decline is reported to correspond to a harvest loss of approximately 2 million tons. Data reported by Bloomberg shows that the average yield for food-grade potatoes has fallen by 14% compared to 2025, dropping to 37.4 tons per hectare. This result is recorded as the second-lowest yield in the last 30 years, following 2022.
Drought Pressure Across Europe
The sharp drop in production is accompanied by a contraction in planting areas. French producers reduced their planting areas by 10% this season due to the oversupply experienced across Europe last year. UNPT emphasized that climate conditions have negatively affected the size and quality of the crops, calling on processing companies to be flexible with contract terms. Similar climate pressures are being experienced in producing countries such as Belgium, the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands. The European Union's agricultural monitoring service announced that by 2026, potato yields across the Union will fall to 34.6 tons per hectare, 6% below the five-year average.