Spain: Potato Crop Seen at 1.8 Million Tonnes, Down 7.7% on Drought
Key takeaways
- 1.8 million tonnes of potatoes expected in Spain in 2026
- 7.69% below the 1.95 million tonnes estimated for 2025
- 30 to 35% lower harvest estimated in Andalusia this year
- 10 to 15% lower output in Castilla y León and Galicia
Why it matters
- For farmers
- Store good-quality stock carefully and sell in stages; tight imports from France should support Spanish prices this winter.
- For processors
- Plan for higher raw material costs and check contract coverage for the winter months.
- For traders
- Secure import volumes early and widen origin options, since northern European crops are also small.
60-second summary
Spain has joined the list of European countries reporting a drought-reduced potato crop. The producers and traders association Asonal, part of FEPEX, now expects about 1.8 million tonnes nationally, down from roughly 1.95 million tonnes, a fall of about 7.7 percent. Losses are deepest in Andalusia, where early potato output is seen 30 to 35 percent lower, while northern regions such as Castilla y León, Galicia and the Basque Country report cuts of 10 to 15 percent. The timing is awkward for Spanish buyers, because major northern suppliers such as France also have very small crops. Packers, retailers and processors should expect tighter supply and firmer prices through winter. Asonal also plans a new price bulletin covering Spanish and European markets. Estimates of the national decline vary between outlets, from under 8 percent to 10 percent, and official ministry data are still pending.
Spain expects a potato crop of about 1.8 million tonnes in 2026. That is 7.69% less than the 1.95 million tonnes estimated for 2025. The forecast comes from Asonal, the national association of fruit and potato producers and traders.
Asonal is part of FEPEX, the Spanish federation of fruit and vegetable exporters. The figures were reported by the news agency Europa Press on 24 September.
South hit hardest
The main cause is a lack of rainfall, Asonal said. The growing season was one of the shortest in recent years.
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Andalusia, in the south, is the worst hit. The harvest there is estimated at 30% to 35% below last year. The region is a key area for early potatoes.
In the northern regions, losses are smaller. Production in Castilla y León, Galicia and the Basque Country is expected to fall by 10% to 15%.
The trade site FreshPlaza.es described the national fall as 8% to 10%. It also noted that drought hit not only Spain but also the main European producing countries.
New market bulletin
Asonal held its general assembly on 16 September. Yolanda Medina was named president. Alfonso Sáenz de Cámara became vice president. Luis Martín is secretary general.
The association plans to launch a sector market bulletin. It will track potato prices in Spanish and European markets. Asonal also wants better access to crop protection products, as regulatory restrictions grow.
Europe offers little relief
Spanish buyers usually look to other European producers when local supply is short. This year, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands also report much smaller crops after drought and heat. Import supply is therefore likely to be tighter.
Why it matters
A smaller Spanish crop coincides with smaller harvests in France and other northern countries. Spanish packers and retailers may face higher purchase prices and fewer import options this winter. Local growers with good quality stock are in a stronger position to negotiate.
Photo: Freshly dug potatoes from a family farm in Spain (illustrative). Juan Emilio Prades Bel / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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What next
Asonal plans to launch a market bulletin on Spanish and European potato prices. Official estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture will follow in its monthly crop reports.
Sources
- Europa Press via Andalucía Información — La patata registra una caída del 7,7% en 2026 — https://www.andaluciainformacion.es/articulo/andalucia/patata-registra-caida-77-2026-escasez-lluvias-espana/202609241137463486785.html
- FreshPlaza.es — La campaña de patata descenderá a 1,8 millones de toneladas — https://www.freshplaza.es/spain/article/9876549/la-campana-de-patata-que-esta-concluyendo-descendera-a-1-8-millones-de-toneladas/
Linked in this material
- Country
- Spain
- Companies
- Asonal; FEPEX
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