An independent assessment by the ECIU has confirmed the scale of crop losses caused by this year’s drought across Western Europe. According to analyst T. Lancaster (17 September 2026), Germany, France, Belgium and the Netherlands will collectively produce 3.1 million tonnes of potatoes below normal in the 2026 season, with the shortfall exceeding 3.5 million tonnes when the United Kingdom is included. The resulting damage is estimated at €498–818 million, comprising €405–622 million across the EU and £80–169 million in Britain.
What makes this assessment particularly significant is that it represents the first independent estimate of losses covering the entire region, rather than focusing on a single country such as France. As a result, it reinforces yesterday’s forecast of rising raw-material prices for French fry and crisp producers, suggesting that the upward pressure on costs may be more widespread and sustained than previously anticipated.
