Overall, the value of raw potatoes exports declined in value by an average -0.1% for all exporting countries since 2014 when raw potatoes shipments were valued at $4.34 billion. Total prepared or preserved potatoes shipments including frozen French fries appreciated by 15.5% over the same 5-year period.
The 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for raw potatoes is 0701. The 6-digit prefix for frozen prepared or preserved potatoes including French fries is 200410 while 200520 is the 6-digit prefix for unfrozen potatoes prepared or preserved with vinegar or acetic acid.
Potatoes Exports by Country: Raw
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of unprocessed raw potatoes shipped during 2018.
- Netherlands: US$793.9 million (18.3% of total exported raw potatoes)
- France: $642 million (14.8%)
- Germany: $374 million (8.6%)
- China: $261.2 million (6%)
- Canada: $252.2 million (5.8%)
- United States of America: $235.8 million (5.4%)
- Egypt: $206.9 million (4.8%)
- Iran: $203 million (4.7%)
- Belgium: $199.3 million (4.6%)
- Spain: $153.7 million (3.5%)
- United Kingdom: $144 million (3.3%)
- Pakistan: $120.9 million (2.8%)
- Denmark: $70.2 million (1.6%)
- Israel: $63.4 million (1.5%)
- India: $57.4 million (1.3%)
The above countries produced 87.2% of raw potatoes exported during 2018.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing raw potatoes exporters since 2014 were: Pakistan (up 136%), Spain (up 74.6%), Iran (up 26.4%) and Canada (up 26%).
Those countries that posted declines in their exported raw potatoes sales were led by: Israel (down -51%), India (down -47.7%), Egypt (down -36.7%), Netherlands (down -11.9%) and Denmark (down -7.1%).
Potatoes Exports by Country: Prepared or Preserved
Frozen prepared or preserved potatoes including French fries amounted to $7.5 billion in export sales for 2018 (thus equaling 79.4% of the overall prepared or preserved total), while international shipments of unfrozen prepared or preserved potatoes were worth another $2.6 billion (representing 20.6%).
Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of prepared or preserved potatoes during 2018, including both frozen and unfrozen goods.
- Belgium: US$2.26 billion (22.4% of total frozen prepared/preserved potatoes exports)
- Netherlands: $2.25 billion (22.4%)
- United States: $1.4 billion (14.1%)
- Canada: $1.2 billion (11.7%)
- Germany: $483.9 million (4.8%)
- France: $476.9 million (4.7%)
- Poland: $325.6 million (3.2%)
- United Kingdom: $301.9 million (3%)
- Argentina: $155 million (1.5%)
- Iran: $127.1 million (1.3%)
- Spain: $104.3 million (1%)
- Mexico: $96.3 million (1%)
- New Zealand: $73 million (0.7%)
- Russia: $69 million (0.7%)
- Austria: $67.9 million (0.7%)
The 15 countries listed immediately above shipped 93.3% of all prepared or preserved spuds in 2018, regardless if frozen or unfrozen.
Among the above countries, the fastest-growing frozen prepared/preserved potatoes exporters since 2014 were: Iran (up 225.2%), Spain (up 48.8%), Poland (up 45.9%) and United Kingdom (up 28.0%).
Three countries posted declines in their exported frozen prepared/preserved potatoes sales namely: Argentina (down -19.1%), New Zealand (down -9.4%) and Russia (down -3.8%).
See also Potatoes Imports by Country, Asparagus Exports by Country, Top Sweet Pepper and Chili Pepper Exports and Top Cucumbers Exporting Countries
Research Sources:
Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on May 8, 2019
Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on May 8, 2019
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on May 8, 2019
Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on August 9, 2019
Wikipedia, Potato. Accessed on May 8, 2019