US potato prices jump 29% as EU, China values weaken
In August, the EU’s wholesale potato price index stood at 154.57 points, down 4.40% in the third quarter and 1.94% year on year.
UNITED STATES – Fresh potato prices rose in the US but fell in the EU and China in Q3 2026, while global potato product markets stayed under pressure from high inventories and price competition, according to the Agricultural Market Research Centre of Xinhua Index Research Institute.
In the United States, USDA-NASS estimates potato acreage at 5.2707 million mu for 2026/2027, down 3.81% year on year and at a record low, according to the data.
In August, average supermarket prices reached US$13.30 per 100 pounds, up 29.13% in the third quarter, 84.72% since February and 12.71% year on year. Reduced acreage and expected growth in the fries sector could further push up retail prices.
According to Potatoes USA, 51% of Americans ate potatoes at least weekly in 2026, with consumption among younger consumers rising.
For US growers and processors, record-low acreage and firm demand create a pricing environment that favours suppliers with existing inventory and contracts.
However, sustained high retail prices could accelerate substitution toward alternatives, particularly among price-sensitive households, which could temper demand growth in subsequent seasons.
In the European Union, processing potato prices declined during the first half of 2026, contributing to the delisting of the processed potato price index futures contract in June, according to the report.
EU potato acreage fell 12.78% to 19.4507 million mu, its lowest level in a decade, with acreage across the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France declining 13.7% to 7.8218 million mu.
Combined with summer heat and drought, reduced cultivation could affect processing capacity and support a recovery in international potato product prices.
For instance, in August, the EU’s wholesale potato price index stood at 154.57 points, down 4.40% in the third quarter and 1.94% year on year.
In China, competition and rising processing capacity have pushed down potato starch and whole-powder prices by more than 30% since 2024, according to the report.
By September 30, Dingxi potato starch averaged RMB6,224.35 (US$932.84) per ton, down 33.27% from its 2023 peak, while whole powder averaged RMB9,750.21 (US$1,461.22), down 38.22%.
Meanwhile, between June and August, China imported 8,017.18 tons of potato starch, up 47.65% year on year, at an average price of RMB6,507.89 (US$975.33) per ton, according to the data.
Finally, with field prices declining despite reduced acreage, the institute expects more potatoes to enter storage and for prices to fluctuate within a narrow range in the short term.
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