U.S. retail sales volume of potatoes increased 5.6% in January – March 2024 compared to the same period last year, and dollar sales increased 4.4%, reaching nearly $4.6 billion. All categories of potatoes increased in both volume and dollar sales, indicating strong growth across the board.
All categories of potatoes increased in volume and dollar sales for the quarter, including:
- Fresh: Dollar sales increased 0.6%; volume sales increased 7.6%
- Frozen: Dollar sales increased 10.5%; volume sales increased 3.3%
- Chips: Dollar sales increased 3.3%; volume sales increased 1.7%
The most significant sales volume increases in January-March were for deli-prepared sides (7.8%) and fresh potatoes (7.6%).
Dollar sales of fresh potatoes were nearly $1.1 billion, a 0.6% increase from the previous year. Fresh sales volume increased for all types except red (-3.3%) and white (-3.1%). Purple saw the highest sales volume increase (18.9%), followed by medley (11.5%), yellow (11.2%) and russet (10.8%). This is especially significant for russet and yellow potatoes, which make up 63% and 16% of fresh volume sales, respectively.
Dollar sales for fresh potatoes increased for purple (12.4%), medley (9%), yellow (8%), fingerling (3.4%), and petite (1.1%). Dollar sales decreased for red (-5.5%), white (-1.7%), and russet (-0.2%).
All pack sizes smaller than 10 pounds saw an increase in volume and dollar sales. The largest sales volume increase was for 8-pound bags (25.5%), followed by 10-pound bags (9.1%), 5-pound bags (8%), bags under 2 pounds (7.6%), and bags 2-4 pounds (4.2%). Bags greater than 10 pounds saw a decrease in volume sales (-25.8%). Bags weighing 10 pounds saw a 5.9% decrease in dollar sales, and those greater than 10 pounds saw a 36.8% decrease in dollar sales.
U.S. potato exports keep steady volume, increase dollar value July 2023 – March 2024
U.S. potato exports remained steady in the nine-month period from July 2023 to March 2024, with volume down just 1% from the same period last year. Export values increased 5% to $1.7 billion.
The dollar value of U.S. potato exports increased across all categories during the period, while volume increased for fresh, dehydrated and seed potatoes.
U.S. fresh potato export volume increased 11% compared to the year before, and the value increased 9% to $253 million. Fresh export growth was driven by a 64% increase in export volume to Mexico. Mexico accounted for 44% of all U.S. fresh potato export volume during the July 2023 – March 2024 period, followed by Canada (23%) and Central America (8%).
Exports of U.S. dehydrated potatoes increased 4% in both volume and dollar value during the period. The largest markets for U.S. dehydrated potatoes were Canada (42%), Mexico (19%) and Japan (14%). Dehydrated potato exports to Canada increased 18%, while exports to Mexico increased 10% and exports to Japan decreased 19%.
For more information: potatoesusa.com