Smaller Tubers Test Specifications in North-West Europe as NEPG Asks Buyers for Flexibility

North-West Europe’s smaller crop is raising a question that goes beyond tonnage: whether the potatoes that were harvested actually fit the specifications written into contracts. The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) has urged buyers to show flexibility towards growers facing lower yields and shorter, smaller tubers, Potato News Today reported on 27 October.

A smaller crop with a different profile

In its crop assessment of 14 September, NEPG estimated ware potato production in Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands at about 20.7 million tonnes, 25.4% below its 2025 estimate. The figures exclude seed and starch potatoes and are preliminary.

NEPG warned that some growers, especially in Belgium and France, may struggle to deliver contracted tonnages, and asked traders, processors and export customers to reconsider their expectations for tuber size and length. According to the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, in an overview of 23 October, September rain came too late to reverse earlier yield losses in summer crops across large parts of Europe; some regions remained dry, while excessive moisture disrupted field operations elsewhere.

Volume is not the same as suitability

Potato News Today stresses that harvested volume and suitability for a particular market are separate measures. Citing Potatoes SA, the article lists tuber size, shape, dry matter, specific gravity, defects and frying performance as factors that determine commercial suitability. For French fries, length, shape and colour uniformity affect processing efficiency and consumer acceptance, while uniform, well-shaped tubers make peeling and cutting easier.

This is why additional volume from a different size category may only partly meet a buyer’s needs. Accepting a wider size range also does not solve every problem with frying performance, texture or usable product yield. The article notes that the sources it reviewed do not establish any Europe-wide agreement to relax specifications.

Contracts and the rules of trade

Belgian guidance published by Boerenbond on 4 February 2026, conveying recommendations from Belpotato.be, advises growers to calculate their full production cost, including fixed and variable expenses, and convert it into a cost per tonne using a realistic yield. When fewer saleable tonnes are produced, the cost allocated to each tonne rises. The guidance also recommends reading all contract conditions, including annexes and terms on digital platforms.

For cross-border trade, the updated RUCIP rules (Rules and Practices of the Inter-European Trade in Potatoes) have applied since 1 October 2025, according to Europatat. The changes include clearer documentation and claims procedures, revised tolerance tables and updated arrangements for expert assessment and arbitration. RUCIP applies only through a clear reference in the contract, and specific contract conditions take precedence over its subsidiary provisions. In disputes, its expert-assessment procedure can establish the condition of the goods, which makes timing and traceability important.

What this means for farms and the market

• Growers short of in-spec volume should open talks with buyers early and document the size and quality profile of their lots.
• Calculate cost per saleable tonne, not per hectare: with lower yields and more out-of-spec tubers, the break-even price rises.
• Traders should check whether their contracts refer to RUCIP and which deadlines apply to claims and expert assessment.

Sources: Potato News Today; NEPG crop assessment of 14 September 2026, European Commission JRC overview of 23 October 2026, Europatat (as cited by Potato News Today)