Market and consumer data analytics company A-INSIGHTS has published its latest monthly MarketMonitor report on trends in the Frozen Potato Products industry, titled “June Insights“.
Analysts at the company conclude that global trade volume is up 0.5%YTD compared to 2019. Aside from the U.S., France, and New Zealand, all major exporters saw volumes increase compared to 2019. With a monthly import volume of 107.9 thousand tonnes in June, U.S. imports are up 26.2% compared to 2019. Despite a minor decline in exports to Europe, Belgium has surpassed its 2019 export volume by 3.6% in 2021, whilst Dutch exports remain 8.3% lower than pre-COVID levels.
Year-to-date volume recovers to pre-COVID level, prices stabilize
Due to strong trade volumes in June, the year-to-date volumes have recovered to pre-COVID levels. Aside from the U.S., France, and New Zealand, all major exporters saw volumes increase compared to 2019. Prices remain below the high level of 2019 but are slightly above the 2015- 2020 average of €0.81/kg. Especially European producers export at lower prices than in 2019, as the higher price level due to bad harvests in 2019 was most apparent in Europe.
Image 1: Total export YTD until June (in th. tonnes & price/kg)
Image 2: June export volume and price per kg by exporting country, compared to 2019 (top 10)
U.S. imports remain strong, up 26.2% in 2021/H1 compared to pre-COVID 2019/H1
With a monthly import volume of 107.9 thousand tonnes in June, U.S. imports are up 26.2% compared to 2019. The additional volume is largely supplied by Canada, with the U.S. responsible for almost all additional export from its northern neighbor. Recovery is mixed in Europe, with France, Spain, and Germany continuing to experience the effects of social restrictions, whilst the U.K., Italy, and Germany show signs of recovery.
Image 3: June import volume and price per kg by importing country, compared to 2019 (top 10)
Aided by low prices, Belgium outperforms Dutch exports in Europe and the Americas
The effects of the pandemic have been substantially less profound for Belgian exports than for Dutch exports: Belgium saw exports decline by 4.2% in 2020, compared to 19.3% for the Netherlands. Belgium appears to have benefitted from its lower price levels (€0.70/kg vs. €0.82/kg in 2020H1), mainly in Europe and the Americas. Despite a minor decline in exports to Europe, Belgium has surpassed its 2019 export volume by 3.6% in 2021, whilst Dutch exports remain 8.3% lower than pre-COVID levels.
Image 4: Belgium export YTD per region until June (in th. tonnes)
Image 5: Netherlands export YTD per region until June (in th. tonnes)
Further information
This and similar potato industry reports produced by A-INSIGHTS are available monthly. You can subscribe to receive the company’s newsletters free of charge here: https://annual-insight.nl/#newsletter-signup.
For questions about this report or any other A-INSIGHTS services and reports, feel free to get in touch with Mathieu Geuskens, Senior Analyst at: mathieu.geuskens@a-insights.eu or +31 (0)20 261 1977.
