Aussie potatoes hit record high price due to nationwide shortage - this is what's going to happen next
There should be some relief in sight for Aussies who love their spuds, just in time for the festive season.
Australia has been experiencing a potato shortage for much of 2025, with supermarket shoppers seeing them doubling in price due to a number of factors.
But it's now predicted that the supplies are set to stabalise in the lead-up to Christmas, meaning our festive spreads should include a side dish of crispy baked spuds.
There should be some relief in sight for Aussies who love their spuds. Nine
The reason potatoes have been in short supply in recent months is due to a number of reasons, the first being the same adverse weather conditions that have been impacting Aussie crops for much of 2025.
The second is due to a virus called potato mop-top virus, which poses no risk to human health but can distort the skin and flesh of potatoes thus significantly impacting the yield for famers.
The mop-top virus, which has only been detected in Tasmania where a significant amount of the nations potatoes are grown (31 per cent), saw import restrictions placed on the Aussie state.
This left South Australia, where 40 per cent of the country's potatoes are grown, struggling to make up for the shortfall, alongside Queensland and NSW farmers who supply 15 per cent combined.
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Australia has been experiencing a potato shortage for much of 2025. 9Honey
The result has been the average supermarket shelf price of potatoes rising from around $3 per kilo to $5.50 or higher.
Some varieties are in short supply, and others have a changed appearance, with supermarkets informing customers of the changed appearance.
A Customer Notice in Coles stores warns customers some potatoes are showing "more markings than usual".
"Rest assured, it only affects the outer skin layer, with no impact to the deliciousness of our Coles Creme Gold, Carisma, Washed or Coles I'm Perfect Potatoes," the store says.
The average supermarket shelf price of potatoes has risen from around $3 per kilo to $5.50 or higher. 9Honey
Coles' most affordable potatoes are their Coles Australian Red Royal potatoes in a 2kg pack, which works out to be $2.75 per kilo.
Other varieties range in price from $3.75 to $5.50.
At Woolies, Aussie shoppers will pay $7.50 for two kilos of Brushed Potatoes, which is $3.75 per kilo.
Other varieties are priced from $4.25 per kilo to $5.80 per kilo.
Some potato products such as Woolworths Brushed Potatoes in a 4kg bag are listed as "out of stock".
Aldi's Brushed Potatoes are priced at $2 per kilo for their Brushed Potatoes in a 3kg bag.
The potato shortage is also impacting businesses including fast food outlets and restaurants, as prices have increased.
Josh Ball, Co-founder of Farmers Pick, tells nine.com.au potato farmers have experienced a "particularly challenging" year".
"South Australia and Victoria normally underpin supply during the cooler months, but the early-year drought across the growing region, especially Mallee, Riverland and Western Victoria reduced yields, produced smaller tubers and even caused some crops to die off earlier than expected," he said.
The potato shortage is also impacting businesses including fast food outlets and restaurants. 9Honey
Coles has warned customers of some potatoes having a change appearance. 9Honey
"This has meant storages ran low well before the next planting cycle could replenish supply.
"Queensland, which usually bridges the seasonal gap, has had the opposite problem. Heavy rainfall from April through June left paddocks too wet to plant on time, damaged seed, and increased disease pressure.
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"As a result, many growers reduced or delayed planting, leaving a shorter and smaller harvest window.
'Many growers reduced or delayed planting, leaving a shorter and smaller harvest window." 9Honey
"It's why processors and supermarkets have been scrambling to source interstate or from imports."
Ball says while it's "hard to predict with the weather", potato supplies are expected to stabilise in the lead-up to Christmas.
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