Soft commodities · POTATO

Potato price

Potato currently trades at US$18.50 per 100 kg (≈ €15.73 · £13.79) — effectively at the 12-month high. Over the past 12 months it has gained 92.71%, with the annual range running from US$2.30 to US$18.50. 24-hour movement is minimal (±0.00%).

US$18.50 / 100 kg
≈ €15.73 ≈ £13.79 Unchanged 24h 100% within the 52-week range
FX Editorial Team · Data updated: · Editorially verified
Potato (POTATO) price today US$18.50 / 100 kg, ↑ +0.00% (24h)

Potato chart

Interactive chart and 30-day overview

7 days
Unchanged
30 days
▲ +704.35%
+US$16.20
1 year
▲ +92.71%
+US$8.90
52-week range
US$2.30 100% US$18.50
Potato (POTATO) 30-day price chart — USD, EUR, GBP

The Potato chart shows how the potato price has moved over time. The interactive view lets you switch the timeframe (from 7 days up to MAX), the currency (USD / EUR / GBP) and overlay moving averages. Click any two points to measure the percentage change between those dates.

How is potato priced?

Potato is priced per 100 kg on European exchanges — the legacy quintal-based unit common in EU agricultural pricing. The unit makes per-tonne and per-kilogram conversion straightforward.

At US$18.50 per 100 kg, one tonne is worth US$185.00 and one kilogram US$0.1850. Most international wholesale trade now references the metric tonne, but the 100 kg unit persists in EU spot markets.

What drives the price of potatoes?

North-west European weather is the main driver of the potato market. Around 60% of the EU potato crop comes from six countries: the Netherlands, Germany (~10 Mt), France, Belgium, Spain and Poland. Potatoes have shallow roots, high water needs, and tuber formation in mid-summer is especially sensitive to both drought and prolonged heat. Spring frost can cut emergence in the weeks after planting, while a July and August heatwave can reduce tuber size and starch content. Both can quickly lift the EEX EAPO price. Market participants closely follow weekly crop reports from NEPG (North-Western European Potato Growers — the joint association for the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany) and Belgian Belgapom wholesale price releases, because these also shape the actual procurement prices paid by processors.

The second major factor is demand from French-fry (frites) processors. Four large groups dominate the European and North American processing industry: Canada’s McCain Foods, the world’s largest frozen-potato producer (privately held, with no listed shares); US-based Lamb Weston (LW), the largest listed pure-play potato company; US-based J.R. Simplot (privately held), one of McDonald’s main French-fry suppliers; and Dutch group Aviko, a subsidiary of the Royal Cosun cooperative. These processors secure part of growers’ output through long-term fixed-price contracts, but buy the remainder on the spot market, where EEX prices and NEPG/Belgapom quotes are the reference points. The global expansion of QSR (quick-service restaurant) chains — McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC and Wendy’s — supports structural demand for frozen fries.

The third set of drivers is substitute crops and planting decisions. Farmers decide each year how to allocate available arable land. Potatoes typically compete with cereals, mainly wheat and maize, for field area. If grain prices (Euronext wheat, CBOT maize) are high, many growers shift towards cereals because of higher margins and lower labour requirements. In recent years, potato area has been in persistent decline in several EU member states, including the Netherlands and Belgium. Higher fertiliser and crop-protection costs, water regulation and drought sensitivity all play a role. A fourth factor to watch is Russian and Belarusian winter stocks. Although these countries account for a significant share of global output (Russia ~17 Mt), their exports mainly go to the CIS region and Central Asia, and affect the EU market only indirectly because of political and sanctions risks.

How can investors access the potato market?

There are relatively few ways to gain exposure to the potato market without physical ownership. European retail brokers such as XTB and eToro typically do not offer potato CFDs, because liquidity in the EEX EAPO contract is much lower than in wheat, maize or soybeans. There is also no pure-play potato ETF. A European retail investor mainly gets indirect exposure through processing-industry shares: US-based Lamb Weston (LW) is listed on the NYSE and is the world’s second-largest frozen-potato producer; McCain Foods of Canada and J.R. Simplot of the US are private companies and their shares are not exchange-listed; Dutch group Aviko is a cooperative subsidiary of Royal Cosun and is also not listed. Two regulated brokers where potato-related shares and broader agricultural exposure are available:

30-day price history

Chart and daily closing prices

Potato (POTATO) 30-day price chart — USD, EUR, GBP

Daily close

30 trading days

Date Price (USD) Price (EUR) Price (GBP) Daily change
25 Apr 2026 US$18.50 €15.73 £13.79 ▲ +704.35%
20 Apr 2026 US$2.30 €1.96 £1.71 —

Potato FAQ

Where are potatoes traded, and what is the EEX EAPO contract? +
The European benchmark price for potatoes is the European Processing Potato futures contract listed on the Leipzig-based EEX (European Energy Exchange), with the ticker EAPO. Settlement is quoted in EUR / 100 kg, and one contract covers 25 tonnes of processing potatoes. EEX may appear to be an energy exchange from its name, but since the integration of agricultural markets it also runs a broader agricultural contract portfolio, including potatoes, dairy products, hogs and wheat. The potato contract covers processing-quality crop used for fries and crisps, with Bintje as the reference variety preferred by the Dutch and Belgian industries. The reference price is linked to Belgium and the Netherlands, and settlement is financial.
What is the difference between industrial and table potatoes? +
Industrial (processing) potatoes are used to make French fries, crisps and starch. The main criteria are high dry-matter content, suitable tuber size and low sugar content. Industrial varieties include Bintje, Fontane, Innovator and Russet Burbank, the last mainly in North America. Table potatoes, or grade-A potatoes, go to the fresh consumer market: they are sorted, washed, packed and usually sold at a much higher price. The two markets are partly separate. The EEX EAPO price tracks processing potatoes, while consumer-grade potatoes sold by the kilogram usually trade at a 3-5 times multiple because of retail margins and logistics.
Who is the world’s largest producer and consumer of potatoes? +
Global potato production is around ~370 million tonnes a year. China is by far the largest producer, growing ~95 million tonnes a year, mainly for domestic consumption. India ~55 Mt is second, also largely focused on its home market. Russia and Ukraine each produce about ~17 Mt, while the United States ~18 Mt comes mainly from Idaho, Washington and Wisconsin. The European Union produces a combined ~50-55 Mt, including Germany ~10 Mt, with another six to eight countries — France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Romania and Spain — accounting for most of the continent’s crop. The EU is relatively stable in the export-import balance and is especially active in the value chain for processed products such as fries, crisps and starch.
Why is weather so important for potato prices? +
Potatoes have a shallow root system, high water needs, and tuber formation in mid-summer is especially sensitive. Spring frost can cut emergence in the weeks after planting, while a July and August heatwave can reduce tuber size and starch content. The north-west European growing area — the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France and the United Kingdom — is particularly exposed to drought risk because a large share of fields is not irrigated. A poor crop year, such as a drought year in Europe, can bring 20-30% jumps in EEX EAPO prices and often overrides long-term contract prices between processors and growers. Market participants follow weekly NEPG crop reports and Belgapom wholesale price releases most closely.
Who are the largest frozen-potato processors in the world? +
Four large groups dominate the European and North American processing industry. Canada’s McCain Foods of New Brunswick is the world’s largest frozen-potato producer. It is privately held, so its shares are not listed. US-based Lamb Weston (LW) is listed on the NYSE and is a pure-play potato company, as well as one of McDonald’s main French-fry suppliers. US-based J.R. Simplot of Idaho is privately held and is also a major McDonald’s supplier. Dutch group Aviko is a subsidiary of the Royal Cosun cooperative and is one of the major players in the European market. These processors secure part of growers’ output through long-term fixed-price contracts, but buy the rest on the spot market at EEX/NEPG/Belgapom reference prices.
What does a shift in planting decisions mean, and why does it matter? +
Farmers decide each year how to allocate available arable land. Potatoes typically compete with cereals, mainly wheat and maize, for field area. If grain prices — Euronext wheat and CBOT maize — are high, many growers move towards cereals because of higher margins and lower labour and chemical requirements. In recent years, potato acreage has been in persistent decline in several EU member states, including the Netherlands and Belgium. Higher fertiliser and crop-protection costs, tighter water regulation under the nitrates directive, and greater drought sensitivity linked to climate change all play a role. A smaller planted area can support EEX prices structurally.
Can retail investors trade potato CFDs directly with a European broker? +
Typically not. European retail brokers such as XTB and eToro generally do not offer potato CFDs, because liquidity in the EEX EAPO contract is much lower than in wheat, maize, soybeans or sugar. Daily volume and open interest are not at a level where CFD providers can quote the product with competitive spreads. There is no pure-play potato ETF either. Private investors have three main routes to indirect exposure: (1) processing-industry shares, primarily Lamb Weston (LW); (2) broader agricultural ETFs, including DBA (Invesco Agriculture Fund) and MOO (VanEck Agribusiness); (3) substitute grain CFDs to follow planting-area spreads.
How large is the gap between wholesale and retail potato prices? +
EEX prices and Belgapom wholesale quotes refer to processing-quality potatoes, the raw material for fries, crisps and starch, and reflect the direct procurement price paid to growers. The retail price of consumer potatoes sold by the kilogram in Europe and the UK is usually 3-5 times the wholesale level. Several factors explain the gap: (1) sorting, washing and sizing; (2) consumer packaging in 2.5-5 kg bags; (3) logistics and chilled or controlled storage; (4) retail margins. Grade-A table potatoes are also made from different varieties, typically tastier but with lower dry-matter content than industrial potatoes, so the two markets are partly separate.

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Data sources: EEX Agricultural Markets — Potato Futures (EAPO) · NEPG — North-Western European Potato Growers · USDA Foreign Agricultural Service — Potatoes and Potato Products · Belgapom — Belgian Potato Trade and Processing Industry