Royal Avebe extends processing season as Dutch potato harvest hits 25 year high

NETHERLANDS – Royal Avebe has extended the operating period of its processing facilities this season after potato growers in the Netherlands delivered one of the largest harvests in decades.

The starch producer said favorable weather and an early harvest pushed volumes well above normal levels, leading the cooperative to keep factories running for about three weeks longer than usual. Avebe confirmed that it will collect all registered potatoes from its member growers during the extended campaign.

“We are adjusting our operations to make sure every registered potato from our members is processed,” the company said in a statement released in December twenty twenty five. “The harvest this year stands well above what we normally see.”

Longer factory runs to manage supply

Royal Avebe operates as a grower owned cooperative, with delivery rights and obligations linked to member shareholdings. When yields rise, the company carries the responsibility to take in and process the additional crop.

The cooperative did not share exact figures for the extra volumes expected this season. However, it described the twenty twenty five harvest as unusually large and said the longer campaign would help ease pressure on storage and logistics across its network.

“Running our factories for longer gives growers certainty that their crop will be handled,” Avebe said. “It also helps us keep the supply chain steady during a demanding season.”

Industry observers note that extended processing campaigns often raise operating costs, from energy use to labor. Avebe did not disclose any added costs linked to the longer factory runs, and it did not say how the move might affect payments to growers.

A record year for Dutch potatoes

The decision comes as the Netherlands reports its highest potato yields in twenty five years. Total production of ware potatoes reached an estimated four point four million tons in twenty twenty five, supported by good weather and expanded planting.

The area under consumption potatoes rose to more than eighty three thousand hectares, an increase of eight point six percent from the previous year. Average yields also climbed, reaching fifty three point five tons per hectare.

This broader growth in supply has shaped decisions across the sector, from processors to traders. Analysts say high yields bring opportunities for volume driven markets, but they also test processing capacity and storage systems.

For Royal Avebe, the extended campaign reflects its cooperative role and its link to growers. As one of the key starch processors in the country, its response sets the tone for how the sector manages large harvests.

“Our focus remains on serving our members and keeping operations reliable,” the company said. “This season requires flexibility, and we are responding to that need.”

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