Potatoes 11.3 per cent dearer in Germany as harvest shrinks by almost a quarter
According to Destatis, potatoes cost considerably more in September than a year earlier. Chips and other frozen potato products, however, became cheaper.
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Consumers in Germany are paying noticeably more for potatoes. According to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), consumer prices for potatoes in September 2026 were 11.3 per cent higher than a year earlier, the agency said on 15 October. For comparison, overall inflation was 3.3 per cent and food as a whole rose by just 0.4 per cent on average. Frozen potato products such as chips, by contrast, became 4.7 per cent cheaper.
The reason is a much smaller harvest. According to preliminary Destatis figures, around 10.4 million tonnes of potatoes will be harvested in 2026, 24.8 per cent less than the 13.9 million tonnes of the previous year. The area planted shrank by 11.1 per cent to 268,300 hectares, and the expected yield fell by 15.4 per cent to 38.9 tonnes per hectare. Producer prices for table potatoes rose by 61.5 per cent year on year in August 2026.
Germany is not running short, however: according to preliminary data from the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food, the self-sufficiency rate was 145 per cent in the 2024/25 marketing year. The country therefore produced considerably more potatoes than it consumed. Overall, producer prices for agricultural products fell by 7.0 per cent in August, while plant products rose by 12.3 per cent. Shoppers looking to save can compare prices per kilo across varieties, pack sizes and shops.
This article is for information only and is not legal, tax, financial or medical advice. Figures as of the date stated.