In the past year, global trade in potatoes, encompassing both fresh and processed varieties, reached a value of €13.5 billion. Notably, frozen potato exports accounted for a significant portion, amounting to €7 billion, far surpassing the €3.4 billion value of (fresh) ware potato exports. Additionally, €2.3 billion worth of other processed potato products and €700 million of seed potatoes were traded internationally. It’s worth mentioning that these figures exclude innovative products derived from “starch” potatoes.
In Northwest Europe, the majority of ware potatoes are directed towards the frozen food sector, with significant trading activities between major potato-growing countries such as France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
For the current season, the Netherlands is anticipating a substantial harvest of 3.93 million tons, despite a dry spring and summer in 2022. This harvest volume has only been matched in 2011 and 2017 over the past decade, while other countries are not expecting such substantial yields.
In the global potato landscape, seed potatoes present a different picture. The Netherlands stands out as the primary exporter of seed potatoes. Meanwhile, starch potatoes hold a significant presence in the Dutch market, with an annual production of nearly two million tons.
Global Potato Production and Trade Dynamics
Potato cultivation is widespread worldwide, with China and India leading in terms of production volume. Although potatoes are traded globally, the trade primarily occurs between a limited number of countries in Western Europe and North America. The key import and export countries for ware potatoes are concentrated in Western Europe. Most of these consumption potatoes are destined for the processing industry, particularly for large French fry processors with multiple factories across different countries.
In this interconnected network, (contract) growers supply potatoes, either through intermediaries or directly, to these processing facilities as per their requirements and availability. This trade often crosses national borders, and the entire Northwestern European region (including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and France) can be considered a single growing area.
In the 2021/22 season, the Dutch processing sector handled nearly four million tons of potatoes, with 40% of this volume, amounting to 1.56 million tons, originating from overseas sources. Approximately three-quarters of Dutch ware potato production serves the local processing industry, and most imported consumption potatoes are used in this sector.
Notable Potato Trade in the Low Countries
The Netherlands and Belgium are significant players in the global potato trade, excelling as trading countries. They are responsible for exporting millions of tons of ware potatoes, as well as substantial quantities of seed and starch potatoes. In the previous season, the Netherlands exported approximately €3 billion worth of potatoes, including processed varieties but excluding derived products using processed potatoes. Meanwhile, Belgium’s potato exports in the 2021/22 season amounted to nearly €2.7 billion. Consequently, the Low Countries stand as the world’s leading fresh and processed potato exporting nations, with the United States and Canada following with a combined export value of around €1.5 billion.
Belgium predominantly exports frozen potato products, sending three million tons valued at €2.2 billion during the last season. In contrast, the Netherlands engages in substantial imports and exports of consumption potatoes. However, the most economically significant category, in terms of value, is frozen product exports, reaching €1.8 billion in the previous season.
Complex Trade Dynamics
Statistics indicate that the Netherlands both exported and imported substantial quantities of ware potatoes in the last season. The country exported 1.6 million tons of consumption potatoes, a notable increase compared to previous seasons. Belgium’s frozen food industry significantly contributed to these exports, purchasing 745,000 tons from the Netherlands. Conversely, Belgium imported 660,000 tons of potatoes from the Netherlands, as reported in Belgian figures.
The Netherlands also imports considerable quantities of ware potatoes, most of which are directed towards the processing industry. In the past season, the Netherlands imported a substantial 1.9 million tons, with the majority (1.3 million tons) originating from Germany. However, Germany’s export figures do not align with such significant quantities, reflecting a figure of 900,000 tons.
Belgium and France are also key suppliers of consumption and industry potatoes to the Netherlands, although the Dutch import figures from Belgium are notably lower than the Belgian export figures to the Netherlands.
International Potato Trade Highlights
France leads the global market as the largest consumption potato exporter, shipping approximately 2.5 million tons in the last season. Belgium and Spain rank as the top buyers, with Italy and Portugal closely following. France mainly exports to European Union countries, with limited exports to non-EU nations.
Germany stands as the second-largest ware potato exporter globally, with a shipment of nearly two million tons last season. The Netherlands serves as their primary buyer, with Belgium and Italy as the following purchasers. Germany’s exports to countries outside the EU are relatively limited.
The United States and Iran follow the Netherlands and Belgium as prominent potato export countries, with Egypt, Pakistan, Canada, China, India, and Spain also featuring among the top players.
Spain, in particular, ranks as the third-largest consumer of imported potatoes globally. In the last season, the country imported 850,000 tons, primarily from France. Other substantial ware potato importers include Italy, Uzbekistan, Russia, Germany, the United States, Portugal, Nepal, France, and Afghanistan.
Seed Potato Market and Starch Potatoes
Seed potatoes represent a unique segment within the potato market, with the Netherlands being a prominent global player. In the last season, the Netherlands exported approximately 800,000 tons of seed potatoes, although this volume was lower than in the previous season and historical averages. Dutch seed potatoes are distributed worldwide, with a significant portion (55-60%) directed to European Union countries, notably Belgium. Outside the EU, North African nations, including Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco, serve as the primary buyers, alongside Israel, Cuba, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Pakistan.
Starch potatoes are a distinct market in the Netherlands, with an annual production of about two million tons. This segment yields diverse and often innovative products derived from starch potatoes.
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