Flemish exports of potato products dropped nearly a quarter in 2025

Flemish exports of potato products fell by 23 percent last year. The high dollar exchange rate, US trade tariffs, and increased competition from India and China played a role in this, Flemish authorities reported on Monday. Flanders is a world leader in frozen fries.

Exports of frozen vegetables also fell by 8 percent last year, as a result of US trade tariffs, growing competition from local processors, and higher exports of fresh vegetables to neighboring countries, due to a good harvest in 2025.

Fries producers Clarebout and Lutosa take action due to overcapacity in potato market

Overcapacity in the potato market is prompting major Belgian players such as Clarebout Potatoes and Lutosa to take action. At the factory of Clarebout, there is temporary unemployment, and at Lutosa, part of the weekend work has been cancelled.

www.belganewsagency.eu

Exports of all agricultural products rose by 5 percent last year to 61.4 billion euros, while imports grew by 6 percent to 51.9 billion euros. Both are record values. Flanders thus remains a net exporter of agricultural products, with a trade surplus of 9.5 billion euros. Potato preparations, such as frozen fries, contributed most strongly to the positive trade balance last year. Chocolate is also important.

The neighboring countries (the Netherlands,France and Germany) represented 53 percent of total agricultural exports from Flanders. Outside the EU, the United Kingdom was by far the largest buyer, ahead of the United States and China.

Trade with the US decreased by 2 percent last year, because new American import tariffs disrupted the markets.

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