A new report from IndexBox shows that global potato exports shrank to 13m tons in 2020, dropping by -11.3% compared to the year before.
In value terms, potato exports plummeted from USD5.1bn in 2019 to USD4.3bn, with France, the Netherlands, and Germany as major spuds exporters worldwide, according to GlobalTrade.
Last year alone, the average potato export price amounted to USD327 per ton, decreasing by -6.3% year-on-year (y-o-y). Belgium, a country with one of the highest per capita potato consumption figures, remains the world’s largest importer. Over the last year, most importing countries have reduced their potato purchases. By contrast, Belgium, Spain, the U.S., Uzbekistan, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and the UK boosted their imports.
Global Potato Exports by Country
The biggest cultivars shipments were originated in France (2.3m tons), the Netherlands (2m tons), and Germany (1.9m tons), together recording 48% of total export. It was distantly followed by Belgium (1m tons), comprising a 7.7% share of total exports. Egypt (561,000 tons), Canada (530,000 tons), the US (506,000 tons), China (442,000 tons), Kazakhstan (318,000 tons), India (298,000 tons), Spain (285,000 tons), the UK (279,000 tons) and Pakistan (276,000 tons) occupied a relatively small share of total exports.
In value terms, the following countries had the highest levels of exports in 2020, with a combined 44% share of global exports: the Netherlands – USD826m, France – USD 684m, and Germany – USD374m. Canada, China, the US, Egypt, Belgium, the UK, Spain, India, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 39%.
Last year, the average potato export price amounted to USD327 per ton, falling by -6.3% against 2019. There were significant differences in the average prices amongst the major exporting countries. In 2020, the country with the highest price was China, while Kazakhstan was amongst the lowest.
World’s Largest Potato Importers
Last year, Belgium (3m tons), distantly followed by the Netherlands (1.6m tons), Spain (0.9m tons) and Germany (0.7m tons) were the main importers of potatoes, together achieving 43% of total imports. Italy (618,000 tons), the US (501,000 tons), Uzbekistan (409,000 tons), Portugal (378,000 tons), France (331,000 tons), Ukraine (285,000 tons), Russia (241,000 tons), Malaysia (236,000 tons), and Canada (233,000 tons) followed a long way behind the leaders.
In value terms, Belgium (USD595m), the Netherlands (USD345m), and Spain (USD314m) were the countries with the highest levels of imports in 2020, together accounting for 28% of global imports. The US, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, Portugal, Canada, Malaysia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan lagged somewhat behind, together accounting for a further 30%.
“Most importing countries have reduced their purchases over the last year. Belgium, Spain, the US, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and the UK were among the few countries that increased their imports in 2020,” according to the report.
The countries with the highest levels of potato per capita consumption in 2020 were Belarus (608 kg per person), Belgium (522 kg per person), and Ukraine (474 kg per person).
