According to the NEPG, the 2012 North West Europe potato area is estimated to be 3.5% lower than last season.
The area is lower across all of the five NEPG countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France and GB), with the largest reductions seen in Belgium (-7%) and GB (-5.5%) and the smallest in France (-0.2%).
It is too early in the season to produce a reliable yield estimation, however based on five year average yields, the 2012/13 NEPG crop is provisionally estimated at 24.2m tonnes (excluding seed and starch production), 9.3% lower than last season.
It is important to note that crops were planted later this season, crop development is behind schedule and growth is irregular, which could lead to lower final yields.
This figure will be updated by the NEPG at Potato Europe in September.