Top Potato Producing Countries in Europe
Which countries produce the most potatoes in Europe? From Ukraine and Russia to Germany, France and the Netherlands, see the top 10 and how production connects with Europe's processing and export trade.
Europe is one of the world’s major potato-producing regions, with large production bases in Eastern and Western Europe and a highly developed processing and trade industry. Based on 2024 production data, Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France and the Netherlands were among Europe’s largest potato producers.
The European potato market is also important for international trade. Northwest European countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany have strong links to fresh potato trading, seed potatoes and processed products such as frozen French fries.
In 2026, weather is adding pressure to the sector. The European Commission’s latest assessment shows that potato yields are below the recent five-year average after a hot and dry summer.
Top 10 potato producing countries in Europe
The table below uses 2024 production data for European countries. The year is important because complete 2026 production figures are not yet available.
| Rank | Country | Potato production, 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ukraine | 21.13 million tonnes |
| 2 | Russia | 18.45 million tonnes |
| 3 | Germany | 12.70 million tonnes |
| 4 | France | 9.24 million tonnes |
| 5 | Netherlands | 6.37 million tonnes |
| 6 | Poland | 5.92 million tonnes |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 5.52 million tonnes |
| 8 | Belgium | 3.98 million tonnes |
| 9 | Belarus | 3.11 million tonnes |
| 10 | Denmark | 3.00 million tonnes |
Also read: Potato Consumption Per Capita by Country
1. Ukraine
Ukraine was Europe’s largest potato producer in 2024, with about 21.13 million tonnes. Potato production is spread across commercial farms and smaller agricultural holdings, giving the country a large domestic supply base.
The country’s potato sector also faces major supply-chain and agricultural challenges linked to the continuing war, making production, storage and logistics important issues for the industry.
2. Russia
Russia produced about 18.45 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024, placing it second in the European ranking.
Much of Russia’s potato production serves its large domestic market. Production conditions vary across the country because of its wide geographical area, climate differences and growing-season conditions.
3. Germany
Germany produced about 12.70 million tonnes in 2024 and was the largest potato producer in the European Union.
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Germany has a broad potato industry covering fresh potatoes, processing, starch and other uses. Its location also gives it close access to major potato markets in Western and Central Europe.
4. France
France produced about 9.24 million tonnes in 2024.
France is an important producer and exporter of potatoes within Europe. It also has a large processing sector and supplies both European and international markets with fresh and processed potato products.
5. Netherlands
The Netherlands produced about 6.37 million tonnes in 2024.
Its importance to the European potato industry goes beyond production. The country has a major seed potato industry, an established trading network and a large processing sector.
The Netherlands was also the leading EU exporter of raw potatoes to destinations outside the EU in 2023, accounting for more than half of extra-EU potato exports by volume and value.
6. Poland
Poland produced about 5.92 million tonnes in 2024.
Poland has a large domestic potato market and remains an important producer despite a long-term reduction in potato-growing area. Its role in processing is also growing, with Poland among the five largest EU exporters of processed potato products in 2024.
7. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom produced about 5.52 million tonnes in 2024.
Potatoes are an important crop for UK agriculture, with production supplying fresh consumption and processing markets. The UK also has an established potato seed sector and a significant domestic processing industry.
Trade conditions after Brexit have added additional documentation and market-access considerations for businesses trading potatoes between the UK and EU.
Also read: Why the Netherlands Leads the Global Potato Industry
8. Belgium
Belgium produced about 3.98 million tonnes in 2024.
Belgium is especially important in potato processing. Its processors produce large volumes of frozen French fries and other potato products for European and international markets.
This gives Belgium a larger role in global processed potato trade than its raw potato production ranking alone would suggest.
9. Belarus
Belarus produced about 3.11 million tonnes in 2024.
Potatoes are an important crop for the country’s domestic food supply. Production is supported by both agricultural enterprises and smaller producers.
Belarus is also geographically close to major potato-producing markets in Eastern Europe, although international trade is affected by the country’s wider trade restrictions and sanctions environment.
10. Denmark
Denmark produced about 3.00 million tonnes in 2024.
Denmark has a diversified potato sector that includes potatoes for fresh consumption, processing and starch production. The country also has strong agricultural infrastructure and access to Northern European markets.
Its production volume is smaller than Germany or France, but potatoes remain an important part of Denmark’s agricultural sector.
How large is EU potato production?
The EU harvested about 50.8 million tonnes of potatoes in 2024 from around 1.4 million hectares. Production increased 5.5% compared with 2023.
Germany was the largest EU producer, followed by France and Poland. The increase shows how strongly European potato output can change from one season to another because of planting decisions and weather.
The longer-term picture is different. EU potato production has fallen substantially since 2000, while production has become more concentrated among a smaller group of countries.
Which European countries export the most potatoes?
European potato trade has a strong intra-European component. In 2023, EU countries traded around 9 million tonnes of potatoes with each other, worth about €3 billion.
France, the Netherlands and Germany accounted for about three-quarters of intra-EU potato exports by value.
For trade outside the EU, the EU exported about 1.1 million tonnes of potatoes worth €663.6 million in 2023. The Netherlands was the leading exporter, with more than half of extra-EU exports by volume and value.
Major destinations included Algeria, Egypt, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Senegal and Morocco.
Also read: Top 10 Potato Producing Countries in the World
Europe’s potato processing industry
Raw potato production is only part of Europe’s potato business. Processing is a major industry, particularly in Northwest Europe.
According to EUPPA’s 2025 figures, the European potato processing industry had 51 production facilities and processed about 7.5 million tonnes of potatoes into French fries and other potato products each year. The sector reported annual turnover of about €9.8 billion.
Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland dominated EU processed potato exports in 2024. Together, they represented 98.2% of EU27 processed potato export value.
Frozen French fries are particularly important. European processors supply both the large European foodservice market and customers in international markets.
Why is Northwest Europe important for potatoes?
The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany form a major potato production, trading and processing area.
Several factors support this concentration:
- Large commercial potato farms
- Established processing plants
- Strong transport networks
- Access to major ports
- Developed cold-chain infrastructure
- Large foodservice and retail markets
- Established seed potato businesses
This is why production rankings alone do not show the full importance of a country in the European potato industry.
Major challenges for Europe’s potato industry in 2026
Heat and drought
Weather is one of the biggest concerns for European potato growers in 2026. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre reported in September 2026 that EU potato yields were forecast to be 7% below the 2021-2025 average following a very hot and dry summer.
Potatoes need sufficient water during tuber development. Heat and drought can therefore affect both yield and tuber quality.
Supply and price pressure
The European market can also face periods of high supply. Strong harvests can put pressure on growers when production increases faster than demand.
For processors, the issue is slightly different. They need consistent volumes of potatoes that meet specific size and quality requirements throughout the processing season.
Processing costs
Energy, labour, transport and raw material costs all affect European processors.
The issue matters especially for frozen potato products because European companies compete in international markets where production costs can differ significantly between regions.
Water and crop protection
Potato growers also face pressure to manage water more efficiently and reduce environmental impacts.
Disease control remains another important issue because potato crops can be affected by diseases such as late blight. Changes in crop protection rules can increase the need for monitoring and alternative control methods.
Also read: Top 10 Highest Potato Producing States in the US
What does Europe’s potato industry look like in 2026?
Europe’s potato sector is not defined by production alone. Ukraine and Russia have very large production volumes, while Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium have major roles in the EU market, processing and trade.
The 2026 season also shows the importance of weather. Lower expected yields, water pressure and changing production costs can affect growers, processors, traders and buyers across the supply chain.
For businesses working in potatoes, the important numbers to watch are therefore production, processing demand, export volumes, prices, weather conditions and crop quality.
Conclusion
Europe’s potato industry is spread across two important production and trade zones. Ukraine and Russia have some of the largest production volumes, while Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Belgium have major roles in the EU’s production, processing and trade network.
The 2026 season is also showing how weather can affect the sector. Heat and drought can reduce yields and affect potato quality, while production costs and changing supply levels continue to influence growers, processors and traders.
For businesses in the European potato industry, production figures are only one part of the market. Export demand, processing capacity, crop quality, water availability and trade conditions will also shape the sector through the 2026 season and beyond.
FAQs
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Which country produces the most potatoes in Europe?
Ukraine recorded the highest production among European countries in the 2024 data, with about 21.13 million tonnes.
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Which EU country produces the most potatoes?
Germany was the largest EU potato producer in 2024, producing about 12.70 million tonnes.
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Which European country exports the most potatoes?
The Netherlands was the leading EU exporter of raw potatoes to destinations outside the EU in 2023.
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Which European countries are major potato processors?
Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland are the main EU countries in processed potato exports.
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What are the biggest challenges for European potato production in 2026?
Heat, drought, water availability, production costs, crop protection and changes in supply and demand are among the main issues affecting the sector.
Image credit (AI Image): Potato insights
Sources & references:
- Agricultural production – crops — Eurostat
- The EU potato sector – statistics on production, prices and trade — Eurostat
- Potato Consumption Per Capita by Country — Potato Insights
- EUPPA highlights scale and trade strength of Europe potato processing industry in 2025 — PotatoPro / EUPPA
- European agriculture hit hard by exceptionally hot and dry summer — Joint Research Centre, European Commission
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