South Africa: Potato Prices Fall 19% in First Half Despite 8% More Bags
Key takeaways
- 19% fall in potato prices in the first half of 2026
- 66.55 million 10 kg bags sold on markets, up 8% on year
- 3.25 billion rand sales value, down from 3.69 billion
- 70% Class 1 share of supply, below the 80% industry goal
Why it matters
- For farmers
- Grade and size stock more strictly before sending it to market; a higher Class 1 share is the clearest route to a better average price per bag.
- For traders
- Expect wider price gaps between Class 1 and lower grades; plan purchases around weekly volume swings on the national markets.
- For suppliers
- Offer growers grading, sizing and storage solutions; the 70% Class 1 share shows clear demand for quality tools.
60-second summary
South African potato growers moved a bigger crop through the fresh produce markets in the first half of 2026 but earned less, because prices dropped faster than volumes grew. Absa AgriBusiness puts the price decline at 19 percent, while market deliveries climbed 8 percent to 66.55 million bags of 10 kg. The total value of sales slipped from R3.69 billion to R3.25 billion, and the average price so far this year is R48.76 per bag. Only 70 percent of the supply was graded Class 1, well short of the industry goal above 80 percent. For growers the message from Potatoes South Africa is to focus on grading, sizing and stock control rather than on chasing short price spikes. Traders and packers should expect more pressure on lower grades. Weekly bank data for September show that prices can still jump when volumes shrink, as in week 37. The main half-year figures come from a single bank report cited by Farmers Weekly and have not been matched against the full market database.
South African potato growers sold more potatoes in the first half of 2026. They earned less money for them.
Potato prices fell by 19% in the first six months of the year. The figure comes from the latest AgriTrends report by Absa AgriBusiness, as reported by Farmers Weekly on 25 September.
Market volumes rose by 8% to 66.55 million 10 kg bags. This is 2.46 million bags above the five-year average.
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The value of potato sales fell to R3.25 billion. A year earlier the value was R3.69 billion. This is a decline of about 12% despite the higher volumes.
The year-to-date average price was R48.76 per 10 kg bag. The winter average was higher at R64.34 per bag.
Quality is a weak point
Class 1 potatoes made up only 70% of market supply. The industry target is above 80%.
FP Coetzee, a manager at Potatoes South Africa, advised producers to manage quality, sizing and stock more carefully. He said this matters more than chasing prices.
Onions performed better in the same period. Onion prices rose by 8%, and volumes grew by 10% to 24.61 million bags.
Recent weekly trend
Weekly data from Standard Bank show a mixed picture in September. In week 37, potato prices rose by 2% week on week to R6,593 per ton.
The increase came as market volumes fell by 17% to 20,387 tons. The bank expected prices to ease again as weaker demand outweighs lower volumes.
Why it matters
South Africa is the largest potato market in southern Africa. Growers there sell mainly through national fresh produce markets, so prices react quickly to volume. A large crop with weaker quality has reduced grower income, even though consumers had more potatoes. The gap between Class 1 supply and the 80% target shows where growers can still gain value. Better grading, sizing and storage can lift the average price per bag without adding more hectares.
Photo: Certified seed potato tubers, South Africa (illustrative). Philippus Jacobus Steyn / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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What next
Standard Bank expected prices to decrease after week 37 as weaker demand outweighs lower volumes. Potatoes South Africa urges growers to improve quality, sizing and stock management.
Sources
- Farmers Weekly (Absa AgriBusiness AgriTrends) — https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/potato-prices-slide-as-onion-market-holds-firm/
- Standard Bank Horticulture Biweekly Insights, 18.09.2026 — https://www.standardbank.co.za/static_file/SouthAfrica/PDF/BusinessBanking/Horticulture_Biweekly_Insights_Report.pdf
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