Recent export figures from the Dutch Potato Organisation (NAO) for the first nine months of 2025 highlight a notable shift in the European potato trade. Exports to Belgium, the Netherlands’ single most important market, have fallen to 70,000 tons, a decrease of nearly 21% compared to the same period in 2024. The NAO identifies a larger-than-usual domestic Belgian potato crop as the primary cause, reducing the immediate need for Belgian processors to source supplemental raw material from their northern neighbors. This trend is consistent with the broader EU market response to the 2024 harvest; according to a recent report from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Agriculture, several key producing nations, including Belgium and France, reported stable to increased production, leading to greater regional self-sufficiency and less intra-EU trade in the early part of the 2025 marketing year.
This contraction in the crucial Belgian market has contributed to a total Dutch export volume of 131,000 tons up to September 2025, a figure that sits below the levels of the previous four years. The decline is widespread, with most EU clients purchasing smaller volumes. However, a striking exception is Germany, where imports of Dutch potatoes have surged to 15,800 tons—more than triple the volume recorded at this point in 2024. This suggests potential regional shortages or quality issues within Germany, or a strategic pivot by Dutch exporters. Beyond Europe’s borders, the export portfolio shows resilience. Significant volumes are being shipped to destinations in Africa, with Côte d’Ivoire leading as the top African importer, and to markets in Central and South America, such as Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana. This diversification towards developing markets is a strategic imperative noted by the World Potato Congress, as rising incomes in these regions drive increased demand for processed potato products and high-quality table stock.
The 2025 Dutch potato export data paints a picture of a market in transition. The industry is facing headwinds from traditional EU partners who are increasingly capable of meeting their own needs in years of strong yield. This underscores the inherent volatility and competitiveness of the intra-European agricultural trade. The simultaneous, explosive growth in the German market, however, demonstrates that strategic opportunities remain within the EU. The key long-term takeaway is the critical importance of market diversification. The steady exports to West Africa and the Americas are not just a buffer against European fluctuations; they represent the future growth trajectory for Dutch potato exports, emphasizing the need for continued investment in logistics, market development, and varieties suited to these diverse consumer preferences.
