Uruguay’s autumn 2026 potato harvest reached 68,365 tonnes, 21% more than in the same season of 2025, according to the country’s agricultural statistics office, DIEA, part of the Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP). The figure comes from DIEA’s “Spring 2026” potato survey.
Area drove the increase
Growers planted 2,570 hectares, 20% more than in the previous autumn season. The average yield was 26.6 tonnes per hectare, so output grew almost in line with area and yields were broadly flat on the year. Some 60% of the crop was irrigated.
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Stocks
By the time of the survey the harvest was virtually complete. A total of 18,752 tonnes, or 27% of production, remained in storage for commercial use, with 97% of that volume held in cold stores. A year earlier DIEA recorded 15,316 tonnes in commercial storage at the same point, so stocks are around a fifth higher.
Spring-summer plantings set to fall
For the 2026/27 spring-summer cycle, growers intend to plant 965 hectares, 9% less than in the previous spring-summer season. By the end of the survey, 96% of the intended area had already been planted.
Autumn 2027 outlook
If growers follow through on declared intentions, the area planted next autumn would be 2,508 hectares, around 2% below 2026. DIEA describes this as a preliminary estimate.
Seed supply
DIEA’s earlier autumn survey showed that 7,014 tonnes of seed were used for this season’s plantings. Some 83% was home-grown by the producers themselves, and 16.6% was imported.
Source: DIEA / MGAP
