German Potato Harvest Set to Fall as Prices Climb
Consumers paid more for potatoes in September as a preliminary estimate pointed to a smaller harvest this year.
Key takeaways
- German potato prices rose 11.3% year over year in September.
- The preliminary harvest estimate puts this year’s crop at 10.4 million tonnes.
German consumers paid 11.3% more for potatoes in September than a year earlier, according to Germany’s Federal Statistical Office. The increase was well above the country’s 3.3% inflation rate for the month.
A preliminary estimate puts this year’s harvest at 10.4 million tonnes, about a quarter below last year. A smaller planted area, summer heat and drought contributed to the decline; yields so far are estimated at 38.9 tonnes per hectare, compared with a usual average of 46 tonnes.
Producer prices rose 61.5% year over year in August, the sharpest increase in three years, according to the reports. Experts expect the smaller harvest to keep putting pressure on retail prices.
This article was produced with the help of AI technology. Based on reporting by the outlets listed above.
