A POTATO shortage is being seen in Spain’s domestic market, with the shortfall being made up with foreign imports.
The domestic potato market in Spain is currently facing a shortage, impacting consumers as foreign produce fills the shelves. The disparity between supermarket prices and expected crop values is increasing, as highlighted by the latest Food Price Index at Origin and Destination (IPOD) from The Committee of Agriculture (COAG). The index reports an origin price of €0.39 per kilo and a destination price of €1.99 per kilo. This price gap was most pronounced in January, with figures of €0.33 and €2.02 per kilo, respectively.
Price multiplication from farm to store was over six times in January, although it eased up slightly in February. In May 2013, the origin price matched February 2025’s €0.39 per kilo, but the destination price has doubled from €0.99 to €1.99 per kilo over 12 years.
COAG’s Potato Manager, Alberto Duque, said: “The two biggest losers in the value chain are always the same: the producer and the buyer. I know what producers sell for and what’s in the supermarket; what I don’t know is who inflates it along the way.”
With domestic potatoes set to be harvested in about ten days, the market is currently dominated by imports from France, Egypt, and Israel. “We don’t have any stock right now. In 10-15 days, domestic produce will start to become available,” Duque explains. He emphasizes the negotiation challenges faced by producers, noting the rising costs of production per hectare, now between €12,000 and €14,000.
Ministry of Agriculture data indicates a 4.5% increase in extra-early potato production compared to 2024, potentially affecting prices. Duque highlights the need for awareness about production costs and the price increases that often bypass the primary sector.
