In the export figures for Dutch seed potatoes, Belgium is causing a major shift compared to last year. Up to December 2020, 23,393 tons of Dutch seed potatoes went to Belgium, compared to 908 tons in 2019 in the same period.
The United Kingdom is also showing a major shift. In 2019, up to and including December, this involved 2,615 tonnes of seed potatoes, compared to 6,709 tonnes in the same period last year. In the run-up to Brexit, the United Kingdom bought about 157 percent more seed potatoes. This is evident from figures from the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO).
Overseas exports are increasing considerably. Only exports to Algeria, previously the largest buyer, are disappointing. In 2019, up to and including December, this amounted to 57,460 tons of Dutch seed potatoes, compared to 32,755 tons in the same period last year. An import quota that has been set limits exports to that country.
Hard currency
Exports to Cuba are also showing a significant decline. The country bought 6,833 tons of seed potatoes, a decrease of 52 percent compared to the 14,176 tons in the same period of 2019. As in Algeria, this is partly due to less availability of hard currency.
In Pakistan, exports rose from 5,498 tons in 2019 to 12,830 tons in 2020. The figure also rose sharply in Bangladesh: from 2,661 tons in 2019 to 7,684 tons in 2020. Morocco also bought significantly more seed potatoes. That increased from 18,341 tons in 2019 to 25,309 tons last year.
