Belgium, famous for its golden fries, is on track for a record-breaking potato harvest this year — yet few farmers are celebrating.
According to farming group Belpotato, nearly all potatoes have now been gathered from the fields, with production expected to reach about five million tonnes in 2025 — an 11 percent increase from last year. That equates to nearly half a tonne of potatoes per Belgian resident.
The growth reflects years of expansion in potato cultivation, driven by the success of Belgium’s frozen fries industry. But this year’s abundance comes at a cost. Prices have slumped due to weaker global demand and reduced exports, particularly following U.S. tariffs and increased competition from Asian producers.
“We are at a tipping point,” said Pierre Lebrun, secretary of Belpotato. “Global markets have been buying fewer European fries.”
Fried potatoes are deeply ingrained in Belgian culture — more than a comfort food, they’re a national symbol. Across the country, small “friteries” or “frituren” serve crispy golden fries with homemade sauces, a culinary ritual that has become a cornerstone of Belgian identity.
The country’s affection for fries has also turned into a lucrative industry. Over the past decade, Belgium has become Europe’s largest producer and the world’s top exporter of cooked and frozen potato products. In 2024, the export value of Belgian fries exceeded €3 billion, triple the figure from 2015, according to Eurostat.
Christophe Vermeulen, CEO of Belgapom, the trade body representing the potato-processing industry, noted that rising global consumption had driven the boom. “As a commodity, fries are always very popular.
When the population grows and the middle class grows, the demand for fries grows as well,” he said. “Every time something fast food-ish opens in the world, they need fries.”
But that surge in global appetite has recently stalled. Economic slowdowns, rising logistics costs, and protectionist trade measures have dampened demand for European products. As processing plants scale back, Belgian farmers who expanded their potato acreage are now facing shrinking margins.
After years of record-high prices that encouraged intensive planting, the industry now finds itself in what experts call a “reset mode.” Farmers are urging for greater market stability and long-term contracts to protect against sudden price swings.
For now, Belgium’s fields are brimming with potatoes — but the satisfaction is bittersweet. What should have been a season of celebration has turned into one of uncertainty for the country that turned the humble potato into a global icon.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
