South Africa: Potato Market Value Falls 12% to R3.25 Billion as Volumes Rise 8%

South African potato growers have delivered more potatoes this year but earned less money, according to the Absa AgriBusiness AgriTrends report. Farmer’s Weekly reported the findings on 25 September 2026. Potato volumes reached 66.55 million 10-kg bags, an increase of 8%. This is 2.46 million bags above the five-year average.

The average potato price for the year to date was R48.76 per 10-kg bag. In winter, the average was higher at R64.34 per bag. Because of the lower prices, the value of the potato market fell by 12%, from R3.69 billion to R3.25 billion.

Quality was also a problem. Class 1 potatoes made up only 70% of the supply. The industry wants this share to be above 80%. The report noted an oversupply of large potatoes from North West province. FP Coetzee of Potatoes South Africa commented on the market in the article.

Onions did better

Onions showed a different picture. Onion volumes rose by 10% to 24.61 million bags, which is 1.81 million bags above the five-year average. Even so, the average onion price in 2026 was R72.34 per bag, compared with R66.93 in 2025. This is an increase of 8%.

Why it matters

South Africa sells most of its potatoes through fresh produce markets, so prices react quickly to volumes. In 2026, supply grew faster than demand. More potatoes at lower prices reduced the total value of the crop by about R440 million, by our calculation.

The low share of Class 1 potatoes also hurts growers. Lower grades sell at a discount, so poor quality reduces income even when yields are good. Growers who improve grading, storage and packing may get better prices in the months ahead.

The figures come from a bank report as quoted by one publication. The data period and market coverage may differ from other industry statistics, such as the weekly reports of Potatoes South Africa.

Photo: Crates of potatoes (not South Africa) (illustrative). Keith Evans / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0