FAS/USDA: Global Export of Frozen Potato Products stalls

Over the past decade, world demand for frozen potato products (comprised mostly of frozen fries) has trended upward, expanding over 50 percent. However, the global economic crisis has stalled world demand. In marketing year (July-June) 2008/09, world exports remained about the same as the previous year at 2.5 million tons. The United States has gained shares from Canada, the world’s largest exporter.

U.S. exports grew by 50 percent over the past five years to about 775,000 tons due mainly to strong demand by the fast food industries in China and Japan and a weaker dollar which made our products more competitive. In 2008/09, despite the global economic problems, U.S. exports to the world rose almost 5 percent due mainly to small growth markets, particularly Hong Kong and Australia.

PotatoPro remarks: All figures in this publication pertain to exports, not consumption. Exports between individual EU-countries are not included in these figures. The Netherlands is world's largest exporter of potato products if exports are evaluated on a country basis.