Brazil: Asterix potato prices in São Paulo climb again, reaching BRL 112.76 per 50 kg bag
Potato prices in the Brazilian state of São Paulo extended their rebound on 28 October, with all three categories tracked by the state’s Institute of Agricultural Economics (IEA) closing higher. Washed Asterix reached BRL 112.76 per 50 kg bag, almost 12% above its level just two trading days earlier.
Washed Asterix potatoes gained 3.77% on the day, up from BRL 108.66 on 27 October — an increase of BRL 4.10 per bag, or roughly BRL 2.26 per kilogram at the new price.
The strongest daily rise, however, came not from the premium variety but from standard washed potatoes (batata comum lavada), which climbed 4.70% to BRL 109.69 per bag (about BRL 2.19/kg). Brushed César potatoes (escovada) — sold with dry soil removed by brushing rather than washing — rose 2.57% to BRL 109.09 (about BRL 2.18/kg).
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Prices on 28 October 2026
| Category | BRL per 50 kg bag | Daily change | BRL per kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asterix, washed | 112.76 | +3.77% | ≈2.26 |
| Standard, washed | 109.69 | +4.70% | ≈2.19 |
| César, brushed | 109.09 | +2.57% | ≈2.18 |
A sharp two-day rebound
Asterix’s recent path illustrates how volatile the São Paulo market remains:
- 26 October: BRL 101.07 per bag, a local low after a decline
- 27 October: BRL 108.66 (+7.5%)
- 28 October: BRL 112.76 (+3.8%)
Over the two sessions, the price rose by BRL 11.69, or 11.6%. Argentine industry portal Argenpapa, which reported the figures, attributes the frequent session-to-session swings to the volume of supply, product quality and the pace at which produce reaches the market.
Why Asterix commands a premium
Asterix is a red-skinned variety bred in the Netherlands by ROPTA-ZPC (now HZPC) and introduced in 1991. In Brazil, where the fresh market is dominated by washed yellow-skinned potatoes, Asterix typically trades at a premium to mainstream varieties such as Ágata: its red skin, high dry-matter content and suitability for both boiling and frying make it popular with retailers and food service.
That standard washed potatoes outpaced Asterix on 28 October suggests the latest rise reflects broader market conditions rather than factors specific to one variety.
Grower prices, daily moves
The quotations are compiled by the IEA and published by Brazilian agricultural portal Notícias Agrícolas under the heading Batata ao produtor — prices received by growers, as distinct from wholesale prices at the CEAGESP terminal market in São Paulo city.
They are also daily figures, which in Brazil can move sharply from one session to the next. One- or two-day changes should not be read as a monthly or seasonal trend without confirmation from longer-term data, such as the weekly market reviews published by Hortifruti/Cepea.
Sources: Argenpapa; Notícias Agrícolas / IEA; PotatoPro; Cepea
