Chile: Frozen Potato Imports Reach US$91 Million as Wholesale Prices Rise 159%
Key takeaways
- 91 million USD of frozen potato imports in Jan-Aug 2026
- 30% of Chile's potato import value came from Belgium
- 159% rise in the August wholesale potato price year on year
- 38,553 hectares planted with potatoes in Chile in 2025/26
Why it matters
- For farmers
- Wholesale prices in August were 159% above last year. Plan early plantings and storage carefully to catch the late-winter and spring price window.
- For processors
- Frozen fries imports depend on Belgium, the Netherlands and Argentina. Review contracts now, since the weak European crop may lift prices; Argentine supply may offer a hedge.
- For traders
- Chilean seed and snack exports grew in 2026, led by Uruguay and Brazil. Look for further demand in these markets for seed potatoes.
60-second summary
Chile buys most of its French fries abroad, and the latest official bulletin shows how exposed the market is. Frozen prepared potatoes accounted for 91 million of the 110 million dollars spent on potato imports between January and August, with Belgium, Argentina and the Netherlands supplying almost four fifths of the value. Exports remain tiny at 3 million dollars, led by seed and snacks sent mainly to Uruguay and Brazil. Meanwhile fresh potatoes at home cost far more: the August wholesale sack of 25 kilos averaged 15,380 pesos, up 159 percent on a year earlier, and street-market prices rose 69 percent. Importers of fries should prepare for costlier European supply after the weak 2026 harvest there, while Chilean growers see strong price signals for planting. The main caveat is that the bulletin covers data only to August, and the area figure uses a new survey method that is not fully comparable with older series.
Chile spent US$110 million on potato imports in the first eight months of 2026. That is 9% less than a year earlier, according to the September potato bulletin of ODEPA, the agricultural policy office. Import volume fell 4.7% to 81 million kilos.
Frozen prepared potatoes, mainly French fries, dominate the trade. They made up 83% of import value, or US$91 million. Their volume was 70 million kilos. Frozen imports fell 13% in value and 8% in volume.
Three suppliers lead the market. Belgium had 30% of import value, Argentina 26% and the Netherlands 24%.
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Small but growing exports
Chilean potato exports are much smaller. They reached US$3 million in January-August, up 19%. Volume rose 47% to 2 million kilos. Seed potatoes were 46% of export volume. Potato snacks made up 55% of export value. Uruguay took 47% of export value and Brazil 25%.
Fresh potato prices jump
At home, fresh potatoes became much more expensive. In August, the average wholesale price was 15,380 pesos per 25-kg sack, including VAT. That is 23% more than in July and 159% more than in August 2025.
Consumer prices also rose. At street markets in the Santiago region, potatoes cost 935 pesos per kilo, up 69% year on year. In supermarkets they cost 1,669 pesos per kilo, up 50%.
ODEPA links the increase to lower volumes from southern regions, where harvest is finished. Supply from the Coquimbo region is also lower because of weather. Prices usually rise in late winter and early spring, when supply moves from one region to another.
The national potato area for 2025/26 is 38,553 hectares, 2% less than before. La Araucanía has 27% of the area and Los Lagos 20%.
Why it matters
Chile relies on imports for most of its French fries. Europe’s poor 2026 crop may raise prices for frozen fries in the coming months. Argentina is already a major supplier and could gain share. At the same time, high fresh prices at home give Chilean growers a strong incentive to plant for the new season.
Photo: Frozen pre-fried French fries (illustrative). LimoWreck / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
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What next
Prices usually stay high in late winter and early spring until new-season supply arrives from the north and centre. ODEPA will publish the next potato bulletin with September trade and price data.
Sources
- ODEPA — Boletín de la papa, septiembre 2026 (14 Sept 2026) — https://www.odepa.gob.cl/publicaciones/boletines/boletin-de-la-papa-septiembre-2026
- ODEPA — Boletín de la papa, agosto 2026 — https://www.odepa.gob.cl/publicaciones/boletines/boletin-de-la-papa-agosto-2026
- ОДИН ИСТОЧНИК
Linked in this material
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- Chile
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