U.S. potato exports hit records for value and volume
U.S. potato exports reached record value and volume from July 2022 to June 2023. Export values increased 19.05% to $2.2 billion, and export volume increased 3.85% to 3.3 million metric tons, according to a news release.
Overall, about 20% of U.S. potatoes are exported, and in the past 12 months U.S. potato export values increased across all categories — frozen, fresh, dehydrated, seed and chips — with double-digit rises in all areas except seed potatoes. The increase in export volume was led by dehydrated potatoes and chips, which rose by 25.63% and 11.19%, respectively, according to the release.
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From July 2022 to June 2023, Mexico became the U.S.’s largest potato export market for the first time. The entire Mexican market opened to U.S. fresh potato exports in May 2022. Trailing Mexico were Canada and Japan export markets for U.S. fresh potatoes, with both value and volume increasing to Mexico. The value of fresh potato sales rose 15.57% from the previous 12 months to $310.4 million, but the volume of U.S. fresh potato shipments decreased slightly by 3.07%, according to the release.
A smaller portions of U.S. potato exports, potato chips increased in value by 11.34% and in volume by 11.19%. Seed potato exports also increased in value by 3.68%, though volume decreased by 5.82%. The export value of U.S. potato chips and seed potatoes amounted to $219 million and $15.1 million, respectively, according to the release.
This data was compiled by the Trade Data Monitor, which gathers data from the Department of Commerce, Foreign Trade Division, using the Harmonized Coding System, Schedule B. Questions on the trade figures, international trade leads and Potatoes USA international marketing programs can be directed to media@PotatoesUSA.com.
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