Spain (Castilla y León): Area dedicated to potatoes decreases after a year of falling prices

The heavy winter rains, combined with the overproduction recorded in France during the previous season, are influencing both the area allocated to cultivation and the production projections for this year.

The president of APPACYL anticipates a reduction in the planted area. In Castile and León, for example, it is estimated that it could fall from 19,500 hectares last year to around 17,000 hectares this year. Meanwhile, in Andalusia, an even greater decrease is expected, estimated at between 12% and 15%.

The particularly wet winter has complicated planting operations, causing significant delays. In Andalusia, planting is up to two months behind schedule, which has not only reduced the cultivated area but also disrupted the entire agricultural calendar. In Castile and León, the rains have hampered the usual pace of work, forcing farmers to concentrate planting within a shorter timeframe.

In addition to the smaller planted area, wet winters tend to negatively impact yields of crops like potatoes, especially in irrigated areas. Suboptimal soil conditions can hinder crop development, resulting in a smaller final harvest. According to forecasts by Eduardo Arroyo, president of APPACYL, production in Castile and León could reach between 600,000 and 700,000 tons if conditions do not worsen.

High humidity also increases the risk of crop diseases. APPACYL is urging farmers to avoid planting under unfavorable conditions, as waterlogged soils are prone to fungal infections and hinder germination due to a lack of oxygen. For this reason, they recommend staggered planting, selecting plots with adequate moisture levels and avoiding further rainfall that could exacerbate these problems.

Despite significant delays in Andalusian planting, which have accumulated to almost two months behind schedule, Arroyo rules out serious overlap with the Castile and León campaign. The climatic differences between the two regions favor faster crop development in the south due to higher temperatures, which accelerates the production cycles. Thus, although the initial planting dates are similar this year, the harvests will continue to be earlier in Andalusia thanks to its greater accumulation of heat.

Currently, there are plots in Andalusia sown only 15 days ago that are already showing signs of germination, something that is not feasible in Castile and León, where sowing is still underway.

On the other hand, the uncertainty generated by the complications in the free market during the previous season has intensified contracts between producers to guarantee sales. However, according to APPACYL, neither the industry nor the operators have significantly increased the volumes contracted; some have even minimized their commitments compared to other years.

Current prices range between 22 and 25 cents per kilo, lower than last year’s figures, when they were between 25 and 28 cents per kilo.

The European context has also influenced the Spanish potato market. During the previous season, a large surplus in France—estimated at between 700,000 and 1 million tons—impacted prices across Europe and increased imports of French potatoes into Spain at very low costs. This pressure reduced local prices to levels that were often below production costs, leaving some of the harvest unsold and some fields unharvested.

In Castile and León, harvest volumes reached between 700,000 and 750,000 tons last season, falling below the average. This decline was also influenced by episodes of heat stress during a hot summer, which negatively impacted crop yields.