DENVER — Exports of all U.S. potatoes and potato products reached a record $1,758,130,172 for the July 2016 – June 2017 marketing year. U.S. exports also achieved a record volume level of 1,712,364 metric tons (MT). At their fresh weight equivalent (FWE), this represents the movement of 71,837,331 hundredweight of potatoes out of the U.S. market, which is approximately 20% of U.S. potato production for the marketing year.
There were increases for nearly all products from the previous marketing year, with the largest gain coming for seed
potatoes up 97%, although these figures do get mixed up by miss classification of fresh potato exports. Fresh potato
exports at 491,716 MT were up 9%, potato chip exports up 5% to 52,103 MT and frozen products up 3% to 1,026,429
MT. Exports of dehydrated potatoes were down 10% to 122,063 MT after suffering significant declines for the first
half of the marketing year. Frozen exports account for 60% of the total exports at the FWE, dehy at 24% and fresh 15%.
Japan remains the largest export market, with Canada a very close second. Based on the FWE volume for all products,
exports to Japan were 680,264 MT valued at $363 million while Canada received 635,463 MT valued at $298 million.
Mexico was not far behind with 527,464 MT valued at $237 million. Korea is now fourth at $109 million with China fifth at $107 million.
With world-wide trade in potatoes and potato products averaging 8% annual growth there remains significant
opportunities for U.S. exports to continue to grow. Future growth challenges include the strong U.S. dollar, increasing
competition from the European Union and the lack of new trade deals for U.S. products. However, prospects still look
good for U.S. exports as the dollar has weakened over the past six-months and U.S. processors are expanding capacity
while ongoing efforts could increase access for U.S. fresh potatoes to a number of markets. Additionally, the high
quality of U.S. potatoes and products sets them apart and Potatoes USA international marketing programs distinguish U.S. products and create new demand.
Potatoes USA implements international marketing programs in 12 targeted markets in Asia and Latin America. These
programs promote frozen, dehy, table-stock and chip-stock to all sectors; foodservice, retail, food manufacturing and
consumers. Potatoes USA also supports the expansion of exports of U.S. seed potatoes to growers in different markets.
All of these programs are funded with a combination of checkoff dollars and USDA export development funds. For
more information on Potatoes USA marketing programs, including detailed export figures, visit potatoesusa.com.
–Potatoes USA
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