Export values increased for all US potato types (frozen, fresh, dehydrated, seed and chips) in July-September 2023, Y-o-Y. Total US potato exports increased 10.8% by dollar value to $607 million, and the export volume increased slightly (0.2%) to 452,000 tons (fresh weight equivalent).
The increase in total exports was bolstered by strong demand for fresh potatoes, exports of which were up 10.4% by volume and 10.1% by dollar value in July-September 2023. Fresh export volume rose significantly in Mexico (48.8%), representing an increase of over 17,300 metric tons from the previous year. The increase in shipments to Mexico comes as the country’s entire market opened to US fresh potato exports in May 2022.
At the same time, fresh potato exports to Canada were down 3.3%. compared to 2022, and exports to Taiwan were down 6%.
Total frozen potato exports for the three-month period were down 8.6% by volume, but still up 11.6% by value. Frozen exports to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region saw a 3% increase in volume, and the Philippines saw a 5% increase. However, exports were down 20% to Japan, 45% to Malaysia and 27% to South Korea.
Total exports of dehydrated potatoes were up 13.3% by volume and 8.9% by dollar value in July-September, boosted by a 34% increase in volume to Central America and a 20% increase in volume to Japan. However, exports were down in some smaller export markets for dehydrated potatoes, including Taiwan (-75%) and Thailand (-38%).
Source: potatoesusa.com