…consumption potato -65000 tons
Dutch exports of both seed potatoes and ware potatoes are declining. The export figures of the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO) for the month of January 2021 show that 13,000 tons less seed potatoes were exported than in January 2020. The export of ware potatoes decreased by 65,000 tons over the period February 2020 to January 2021, compared to the same period 2019-2020.
Total Dutch exports of consumer and industrial potatoes amounted to 53,823 tons in January 2021. For the period February 2020 to January 2021, total exports amounted to 417,138 tons. This is 65,000 tons less than the 482,194 tons that were exported in the period February 2019 to January 2020. This 417,138 tons is the lowest amount in the past five years.
Belgium
The decline is mainly attributable to Belgium. The export of consumption potatoes to our southern neighbors amounted to 23,387 tons in January 2021. Over the period from February 2020 to January 2021, a total of 126,716 tons of pagers went to Belgium. This is no less than 100,000 tonnes less than in the period from February 2019 to January 2020. At that time, 226,845 tonnes of potatoes went to Belgium.
Total exports
The total export of Dutch consumption and industrial potatoes within the EU amounted to 40,340 tons last month. This brings exports from February 2020 to January 2021 to 245,269 tons. This is more than 120,000 tons less than in the period from February 2019 to January 2020. At that time, 366,370 tons of potatoes went to the other EU countries. Exports to Africa increased from 67,941 tons to 110,933 tons. Last month 7,320 tons went to Africa. Of this, 3,247 tons were destined for Ivory Coast. Sales to the American countries amounted to 4,954 tons in January. Total sales to these countries rose to 43,018 tons in the past 12 months. Sales to Asian countries amounted to 832 tons in January. Over the past 12 months, 13,769 tons went to these countries. Sri Lanka in particular was well on the market with 9,406 tons.
Seed potatoes
Total Dutch seed potato exports decreased by 13,000 tons in January 2021 compared to January 2020. Last month, a total of 396,097 tons of seed potatoes left our country. In January 2020 this was 408,984 tons. The five largest customers last month were: Algeria (42,285 tons), Egypt (30,402 tons), Morocco (27,661 tons), Belgium (25,210 tons) and Italy with 22,910 tons.
Decline in exports
Notable fallers in the export of seed potatoes in January include Cuba, Italy and Algeria. For example, exports to Cuba decreased from 14,176 tons in January 2020 to 6,833 tons in January 2021. Exports to Italy decreased in this period from 28,210 tons to 22,910 tons and those from Algeria decreased from 75,480 tons to 42,285 tons. A positive development is the increasing export to Belgium, which amounted to 25,210 tons last month. In January 2020 this was only 3,058 tons. Exports to Pakistan more than doubled from 6,016 to 13,187 tons and those to Saudi Arabia increased from 14,545 tons in January 2020 to 18,762 tons last January.
Plus
The total export of Dutch seed potatoes to the other EU member states was 8,000 tons higher in January 2020 than in January 2020. Exports to the American countries decreased last month to 15,239 tons compared to 20,333 tons last year. Last month there was an increase of 15,500 tons to the Asian countries. In January 2021, 114,760 tons were shipped to these countries, against 98,242 tons last January. Exports to African countries decreased by 31,000 tons compared to January 2020: from 152,272 tons to 121,271 tons.
