US increases 29% exports of potato chips to Mexico
United States exports of frozen potato chips, the country’s leading volume of potato trade, increased 9% (both in value and volume) during the period from September 2019 to February 2020.
This result was driven by double-digit rate increases for many destinations, including Mexico (29%), the Philippines (24%), and Canada (28 percent).
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the US potato trade continued to show a surprising balance between the volume of exports and imports.
In the first six months of the 2019/2020 marketing year, the United States exported 6% more potatoes and potato products, while importing 7% more.
French exports
Frozen french fries are also leaders in volume on the import side, with an increase of 2% until February.
The demand for potato chips in North America was strong before the COVID-19 pandemic.
US Potato Trade Volume USA (1)
All of the gain in imports of frozen potato chips came from European nations, including Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany, at the expense of Canadian processors, who have seen sales to the United States drop 1% so far of the season, after experiencing a 7 percent decline last season (2018/19).
Production
With a lower average yield and reduced harvest area, U.S. potato production in 2019 decreased 2% to 423 million tons.
Production decreased 8% in the producing state of Idaho, as premature rains and early frosts delayed harvest and affected yield and quality.
Similarly, the rain and cold weather also delayed and impacted the harvest in North Dakota, the fifth leading producer state and the leading supplier of red potatoes.
The harvested area of the United States, one of the leaders in exports worldwide, decreased 1% despite a small increase in plantations.
