Germany, Greece and Cyprus remain key potato suppliers to Poland; Ukraine invests in processing sector
Germany remains the leading potato exporter to Poland, supplying 28,740 tonnes from January to May 2026, with an average import price of €0.4/kg. Ukraine has begun construction of its largest potato processing plant, aiming to shift from imports to exports of potato products.
From January to May 2026, Poland imported 62,390 tonnes of fresh or chilled potatoes at an average price of €0.4/kg (1.74 PLN/kg). Germany was the primary supplier, accounting for 28,740 tonnes valued at €7.9 million (34.05 mln PLN), representing 46.1% of total Polish potato imports. Other significant suppliers included Greece (8,000 tonnes), Cyprus (5,740 tonnes), France (4,920 tonnes), and Spain (4,520 tonnes). In May alone, Germany exported 8,500 tonnes to Poland, followed by Greece (3,600 tonnes), Spain (3,150 tonnes), France (2,720 tonnes), and Egypt (1,280 tonnes). Italy also supplied over 1,040 tonnes in May, while imports from Romania rose to 528 tonnes for the month, having previously been negligible. Combined, southern European and Mediterranean countries (Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Egypt, Italy) delivered over 24,640 tonnes to Poland in the first five months of 2026, nearly 40% of all imports. The bulk of these imports consisted of fresh and chilled potatoes, including seed and starch varieties. Ukraine has begun construction of the largest potato processing plant in its history, with the first phase scheduled for completion by late 2026 or early 2027. The new facility in Cherkasy region will have an annual production capacity of 25,000 tonnes of potato starch, aiming to fully cover domestic demand (currently 2,500 tonnes imported annually) and enable future exports. A second phase, planned for 2027, will add a French fry production line with a yearly output of 60,000–150,000 tonnes. Total investment in the project exceeds €151 million (6.4 billion UAH), with the first phase valued at approximately €22.3 million (960 million UAH). In the UK, one in seven potato storage facilities still shows measurable residues of the sprout inhibitor CIPC, despite its ban, but all results remain below the temporary EU maximum residue level of 0.35 mg/kg. The industry is continuing monitoring and cleaning efforts to remain compliant with regulations. France, Spain, and the Netherlands remain major potato exporters to other EU markets, maintaining their competitive positions alongside Germany and southern Europe, especially during the summer period.
Material prepared by the editorial team of fresh-market.info, editor Artur Spiker · Illustrative image generated by AI