10 Potato Exporting Countries You Should Know About
Potatoes are one of the most widely consumed crops in the world, with an annual production of over 370 million metric tons. They are rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and can be cooked in various ways. Potatoes are also a valuable commodity for international trade, as they can be processed into products such as chips, fries, starch, flour, and alcohol. In this article, we will explore the top 10 potato exporting countries in the world, based on the data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
1. Netherlands
The Netherlands is the largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 22.7% in 2019. The country exported 7.6 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $2.6 billion. The main destinations for Dutch potatoes are Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain. The Netherlands is known for its high-quality seed potatoes, which are used to grow new varieties of potatoes around the world.
2. France
France is the second-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 12.4% in 2019. The country exported 4.2 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $1.4 billion. The main destinations for French potatoes are Belgium, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Germany. France is also a major producer of processed potato products, such as fries and chips.
3. Germany
Germany is the third-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 10.8% in 2019. The country exported 3.6 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $1 billion. The main destinations for German potatoes are Poland, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Denmark. Germany is also a leading consumer of potatoes in Europe, with an average annual consumption of 55 kg per person.
4. Belgium
Belgium is the fourth-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 10% in 2019. The country exported 3.4 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $1.5 billion. The main destinations for Belgian potatoes are France, Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, and Poland. Belgium is famous for its fries, which are made from thick-cut potatoes that are fried twice for extra crispiness.
5. China
China is the fifth-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 7% in 2019. The country exported 2.4 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $589 million. The main destinations for Chinese potatoes are Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. China is also the largest producer and consumer of potatoes in the world, with an annual production of over 99 million metric tons and an annual consumption of over 36 kg per person.
6. United States
The United States is the sixth-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 6% in 2019. The country exported 2 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $945 million. The main destinations for American potatoes are Canada, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea. The United States is also a major producer of processed potato products, such as chips and frozen fries.
7. Canada
Canada is the seventh-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 4% in 2019. The country exported 1.4 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $541 million. The main destinations for Canadian potatoes are United States, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, and Brazil. Canada is also a significant producer and consumer of potatoes in North America, with an annual production of over 4 million metric tons and an annual consumption of over 71 kg per person.
8. Egypt
Egypt is the eighth-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 3% in 2019. The country exported 1 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $222 million. The main destinations for Egyptian potatoes are Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Italy, and Jordan. Egypt is also a major producer and consumer of potatoes in Africa, with an annual production of over 5 million metric tons and an annual consumption of over 34 kg per person.
9. United Kingdom
United Kingdom is the ninth-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 2% in 2019. The country exported 0.8 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $284 million. The main destinations for British potatoes are Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, and France. United Kingdom is also a significant producer and consumer of potatoes in Europe, with an annual production of over 5 million metric tons and an annual consumption of over 85 kg per person.
10. Poland
Poland is the tenth-largest exporter of potatoes in the world, with a market share of 2% in 2019. The country exported 0.7 million metric tons of potatoes, worth $136 million. The main destinations for Polish potatoes are Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Hungary. Poland is also a leading producer and consumer of potatoes in Europe, with an annual production of over 9 million metric tons and an annual consumption of over 104 kg per person.
These are the top 10 potato exporting countries in the world, according to the FAO data. Potatoes are a versatile and nutritious crop that can be grown in different climates and soils, and can be traded across borders. Potatoes are also a staple food for many people around the world, and can be enjoyed in various cuisines and dishes.
Potato Exporting Countries: A Statistical Overview
Potatoes are one of the most versatile and widely consumed vegetables in the world. They are rich in essential vitamins and minerals and can be prepared in various ways, such as mashed, roasted, baked, or boiled. Potatoes are also an important source of income for many countries that export them to other markets. In this blog post, we will look at some statistics on potato exporting countries and how the global demand for this crop has changed over time.
Top Potato Exporters in 2022
According to the World’s Top Exports website, the global sales of unprocessed potatoes amounted to US$5.1 billion in 2022, an increase of 17.5% since 2018 and 15.4% since 2021. The top 15 countries that exported the highest value of raw potatoes in 2022 were:
- Netherlands: US$964.5 million (18.8% of total exports)
- France: US$849.2 million (16.5%)
- Germany: US$461.5 million (9%)
- Canada: US$427.9 million (8.3%)
- Egypt: US$316 million (6.2%)
- United States: US$303.7 million (5.9%)
- China: US$248.8 million (4.8%)
- Pakistan: US$216.6 million (4.2%)
- Belgium: US$216 million (4.2%)
- United Kingdom: US$170.8 million (3.3%)
- Spain: US$144.4 million (2.8%)
- India: US$95.6 million (1.9%)
- Israel: US$73.3 million (1.4%)
- Denmark: US$58.5 million (1.1%)
- South Africa: US$48.3 million (0.9%)
These 15 countries accounted for 89.5% of the total raw potato exports in 2022. The fastest-growing exporters since 2021 were Pakistan (up 92.1%), Egypt (up 57.8%), Canada (up 46.2%), and India (up 34.8%). Three major suppliers posted declines in their exports, namely Israel (down -8.9%), South Africa (down -6%), and Denmark (down -0.3%).
Prepared or Preserved Potatoes Exports in 2022
Besides raw potatoes, there is also a significant market for prepared or preserved potatoes, including frozen French fries, which are popular around the world. The World’s Top Exports website reports that the global shipments of prepared or preserved potatoes amounted to US$11.1 billion in 2022, an increase of 10.1% since 2018 and 1.9% since 2021.
Frozen prepared or preserved potatoes, including French fries, accounted for US$8.1 billion or 72.8% of the total exports, while unfrozen prepared or preserved potatoes were worth another US$3 billion or 27.2%. The top 15 countries that exported the highest value of prepared or preserved potatoes in 2022 were:
- Argentina: US$2.23 billion (20.1% of total exports)
- France: US$1.8 billion (16.7%)
- United States: US$1.51 billion (13.7%)
- Germany: US$1.46 billion (13.1%)
- Belgium: US$1 billion (9%)
- Netherlands: US$885 million (7.9%)
- Canada: US$467 million (4.2%)
- China: US$302 million (2.7%)
- United Kingdom: US$215 million (1.9%)
- Poland: US$197 million (1.8%)
- Austria: US$163 million (1.5%)
- Spain: US$140 million (1.3%)
- Italy: US$121 million (1.1%)
- Egypt: US$109 million (0.%)
- Turkey: US$96 million (0.%)
These 15 countries accounted for 95.% of the total prepared or preserved potato exports in 2022.
Global Potato Demand Trends
According to Statista, the global production volume of potatoes was estimated at 376 million metric tons in 2022, a slight decrease from the previous year’s figure of 381 million metric tons.
The leading potato producer worldwide was China, which accounted for approximately 94 million metric tons of potatoes in 2022, followed by India with 49 million metric tons, Russia with 31 million metric tons, Ukraine with 22 million metric tons, and the United States with 20 million metric tons.
The global area harvested for potatoes was estimated at 17.6 million hectares in 2022, a slight increase from the previous year’s figure of 17.5 million hectares.
The global potato consumption per capita was estimated at 33.5 kilograms in 2021, a slight decrease from the previous year’s figure of 33.7 kilograms.
The global potato price was estimated at US$0.25 per kilogram in 2022, a slight increase from the previous year’s figure of US$0.24 per kilogram.
Potatoes are a valuable crop for many countries that export them to other markets. The global demand for potatoes has been relatively stable over the years, with some fluctuations depending on the production, consumption, and price trends. The top potato exporters in 2022 were mainly European countries, such as the Netherlands, France, Germany, and Belgium, as well as Argentina, the United States, Canada, China, and Egypt. The top potato importers in 2022 were mainly European countries, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain, as well as the United States, Brazil, Japan, and Saudi Arabia.
References:
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.CD?locations=IR
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.CD?locations=CU&most_recent_value_desc=true
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.CD?locations=CF&most_recent_value_desc=true
https://www.statista.com/topics/6003/potato-industry-worldwide/
http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC
https://www.potatopro.com/world/potato-statistics
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