Industry association Asonal announced plans to beef up its structure to better defend the interests of the sector
Spain is on course to produce around 1.8mn tonnes of potatoes in 2026, a decrease of 10 per cent on the 1.95mn tonnes grown in 2025. The National Association for Potato Production and Trade (Asonal) said the season has been heavily impacted by drought.
The decline was particularly sharp in the early-potato growing areas of southern Spain, driven primarily by a drop in the Andalusian harvest. This is estimated to be 30-35 per cent on last year, while major northern producing regions such as Castile and León, Galicia, and the Basque Country saw decreases ranging from 10-15 per cent.
Amid the current challenges facing the sector, Asonal has agreed to strengthen its structure and representative capacity.
At its annual general assembly meeting in Madrid recently, Asonal noted that the 2026 season – now virtually complete – is considered one of the leanest in recent years due to scarce rainfall and its impact on yields. The drought has affected not only Spain but also major European producing nations, leading to reduced yields and lower potato availability across the continent.
Against this backdrop, Asonal said it wanted to equip its member companies with greater representative capacity and information to tackle the regulatory, production, and commercial challenges shaping the sector’s future.
This initiative will be driven by a newly created Technical General Secretariat that will combine administrative functions with ongoing institutional representation, regulatory monitoring, and the defence of industry interests. The association said one of its top priorities is the availability of plant protection products – an issue of particular concern to the sector due to the progressive reduction in authorised tools for pest and disease control.
In addition to strengthening institutional dialogue, Asonal said it would develop new information and analysis services for the sector. A key feature will be the launch of a potato market bulletin providing up-to-date information on price trends across various sales formats in Spain and major European markets, as well as data on foreign trade performance and other indicators relevant to producers and marketers.
Through this tool, the association aims to facilitate better business decision-making and improve market insight in an environment increasingly shaped by supply and demand dynamics and international competition.
The general assembly also approved the new board of directors, which will be chaired by Yolanda Medina, with Alfonso Sáenz de Cámara serving as vice-chair and Luis Martín as secretary general.
