International purchases of imported raw potatoes were worth US$4.68 billion in 2021. The value of globally imported raw potatoes slowed but still increased by an average 3.4% for all importing countries since 2017 when international purchases of those fresh or chilled potatoes were valued at $4.52 billion.

Year over year, the overall value of potato imports flatlined via a -1.7% reduction from $4.76 billion during 2020.

The 5 largest importers of potatoes are Belgium, Netherlands, United States of America, Spain and Germany. The 5 major buyers bought almost two-fifths (38.5%) of the world value for potatoes imported during 2021.

From a continental perspective, European countries bought the most imported raw potatoes during 2021 with purchases costing a total $2.85 billion or 61% of the global total. In second place were Asian importers at 19.4% while 9.4% of potatoes imported worldwide was delivered to North America. Another 7.3% arrived in Africa.

Smaller percentages went to Latin America (2.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, then Oceania (0.3%) led by Fiji and French Polynesia.

For research purposes, the 4-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix for fresh or chilled potatoes is 0701.

Potatoes Imports by Country

Below are the 15 countries that imported the highest dollar value worth of raw potatoes during 2021.

1. Belgium: US$648.3 million (13.9% of total imported potatoes)
2. Netherlands: $364.8 million (7.8%)
3. United States: $280.8 million (6%)
4. Spain: $278.1 million (5.9%)
5. Germany: $229.1 million (4.9%)
6. Russia: $222.2 million (4.8%)
7. Italy: $190.7 million (4.1%)
8. Vietnam: $126.8 million (2.7%)
9. France: $118 million (2.5%)
10. Canada: $103.5 million (2.2%)
11. Egypt: $96.3 million (2.1%)
12. Portugal: $94.2 million (2%)
13. Malaysia: $81.5 million (1.7%)
14. Uzbekistan: $72.8 million (1.6%)
15. Greece: $69.6 million (1.5%)

By value, the listed 15 countries purchased 63.6% of all potatoes imported in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing markets for potatoes since 2020 were: Vietnam (up 358.5%), Uzbekistan (up 77.5%), Russia (up 76.8%) and Egypt (up 25.3%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported potatoes purchases were led by: Spain (down -11.5%), Germany (down -9.5%), Italy (down -8.1%) and Portugal (down -5.6%).

Potatoes Imported into Belgium

Belgium’s global purchases of imported raw potatoes totaled US$648.3 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Belgium imported the highest dollar value worth of potatoes during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.

1. France: US$281.2 million (down -3.7% from 2020)
2. Netherlands: $195.5 million (up 9.6%)
3. Germany: $123.7 million (up 39.4%)
4. Spain: $23.8 million (up 0.3%)
5. Egypt: $6.2 million (down -20.8%)
6. Israel: $4.2 million (down -40%)
7. Cyprus: $3.7 million (up 50.8%)
8. Italy: $1.7 million (down -34.2%)
9. Luxembourg: $676,000 (down -56%)
10. Portugal: $230,000 (up 105.4%)
11. Ireland: $75,000 (down -68.1%)
12. Romania: $69,000 (down -2.8%)
13. Poland: $47,000 (up 161.1%)
14. Morocco: $38,000 (down -7.3%)
15. Denmark: $37,000 (down -79.6%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.9% of potatoes imported by Belgium in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of potatoes to Belgium since 2020 were: Poland (up 161.1%), Portugal (up 105.4%), Cyprus (up 50.8%) and Germany (up 39.4%).

Countries that experienced declines in the value of their potatoes supplied to Belgian importers included: Denmark (down -79.6%), Ireland (down -68.1%), Luxembourg (down -56%) and Israel (down -40%).

Overall, the value of Belgium’s imported potatoes rose by an average 5.2% from all supplying countries since 2020 when potatoes purchased cost $616.1 million.

Potatoes Imported into the Netherlands

Dutch global purchases of imported raw potatoes totaled US$364.8 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which the Netherlands imported the highest dollar value worth of potatoes during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.

1. Germany: US$198.5 million (up 25.6% from 2020)
2. Belgium: $80.3 million (up 5.5%)
3. France: $38.2 million (down -25%)
4. Israel: $22.2 million (up 26.8%)
5. Spain: $6.8 million (down -6.6%)
6. Denmark: $5.1 million (up 96.9%)
7. Italy: $3.4 million (down -37%)
8. Morocco: $1.8 million (down -0.7%)
9. Poland: $1.5 million (up 32.9%)
10. Malta: $1 million (down -25.1%)
11. Luxembourg: $735,000 (down -38.3%)
12. Portugal: $699,000 (down -64.8%)
13. Cyprus: $685,000 (down -19.4%)
14. Egypt: $568,000 (down -40.8%)
15. Austria: $345,000 (up 153.7%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.2% of potatoes imported by Netherlands in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of potatoes to Netherlands since 2020 were: Austria (up 153.7%), Denmark (up 96.9%), Poland (up 32.9%) and Israel (up 26.8%).

Countries that experienced declines in the value of their potatoes supplied to Dutch importers included: Portugal (down -64.8%), Egypt (down -40.8%), Luxembourg (down -38.3%) and Italy (down -37%).

Overall, the value of Netherlands’s imported potatoes went up by an average 7.2% from all supplying countries since 2020 when potatoes purchased cost $340.1 million.

Potatoes Imports into the United States

America’s global purchases of imported raw potatoes totaled US$280.8 million in 2021. Below are the top suppliers from which the US imported the highest dollar value worth of potatoes during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.

1. Canada: US$280.7 million (down -1.7% from 2020)
2. Colombia: $19,000 (down -84.4%)
3. Mexico: $9,000 (2020 data unavailable)
4. Dominican Republic: $3,000 (2020 data unavailable)
5. Peru: $2,000 (2020 data unavailable)

By value, the listed countries shipped 99.9996% of potatoes imported by United States in 2021.

Overall, the value of America’s imported potatoes slowed by an average -1.7% from all supplying countries since 2020 when potatoes purchased cost $285.7 million.

Potatoes Imported into Spain

Spain’s global purchases of imported raw potatoes totaled US$278.1 million in 2021. Below are the top 15 suppliers from which Spain imported the highest dollar value worth of potatoes during 2021. Within parenthesis is the percentage change in value for each supplying country from 2020 to 2021.

1. France: US$174.8 million (down -16.5% from 2020)
2. Netherlands: $36.6 million (up 1%)
3. United Kingdom: $26 million (down -17.8%)
4. Israel: $13.7 million (up 51.2%)
5. Portugal: $9.8 million (down -5.5%)
6. Belgium: $5.2 million (down -5.7%)
7. Egypt: $3.2 million (up 20.6%)
8. Germany: $2.6 million (up 10.7%)
9. Denmark: $1.9 million (down -3.7%)
10. Morocco: $1.6 million (down -33.1%)
11. Luxembourg: $1.5 million (up 16.3%)
12. Cyprus: $927,000 (up 59%)
13. Greece: $137,000 (up 168.6%)
14. Italy: $93,000 (up 63.2%)
15. Ireland: $80,000 (2020 data unavailable)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 99.9% of potatoes imported by Spain in 2021.

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing suppliers of potatoes to Spain since 2020 were: Greece (up 168.6%), Italy (up 63.2%), Cyprus (up 59%) and Israel (up 51.2%).

Countries that experienced declines in the value of their potatoes supplied to Spanish importers included: Morocco (down -33.1%), United Kingdom (down -17.8%), France (down -16.5%) and Belgium (down -5.7%).

Overall, the value of Spain’s imported potatoes retreated by an average -11.5% from all supplying countries since 2020 when potatoes purchased cost $314.1 million.
 

Searchable List of Potatoes Importing Countries in 2021

The automated database below showcases 100 key import markets for potatoes bought internationally during 2021.

Expanding the scope to the 100 most valuable importers of potatoes, 97.9% of globally imported potatoes was bought by the top 100 import countries.

Rank	Importer	Potato Imports (US$)	2020-1
1.	Belgium	$648,327,000	+5.2%
2.	Netherlands	$364,799,000	+7.2%
3.	United States	$280,781,000	-1.7%
4.	Spain	$278,149,000	-11.5%
5.	Germany	$229,108,000	-9.5%
6.	Russia	$222,212,000	+76.8%
7.	Italy	$190,743,000	-8.1%
8.	Vietnam	$126,846,000	+358.5%
9.	France	$117,995,000	+15.6%
10.	Canada	$103,538,000	+16.2%
11.	Egypt	$96,259,000	+25.3%
12.	Portugal	$94,152,000	-5.6%
13.	Malaysia	$81,473,000	-5.2%
14.	Uzbekistan	$72,772,000	+77.5%
15.	Greece	$69,599,000	-4.9%
16.	United Kingdom	$69,418,000	-49.8%
17.	Azerbaijan	$55,799,000	+12.7%
18.	Mexico	$55,466,000	-8%
19.	Romania	$52,627,000	-3.1%
20.	Czech Republic	$45,775,000	-17.1%
21.	Ukraine	$43,972,000	-29.9%
22.	Hungary	$42,598,000	+26.7%
23.	United Arab Emirates	$41,891,000	-40.1%
24.	Algeria	$41,813,000	+21.1%
25.	Poland	$41,661,000	-34.9%
26.	Austria	$37,903,000	-13.5%
27.	Saudi Arabia	$37,064,000	+45.6%
28.	Iraq	$36,712,000	-51.6%
29.	Ireland	$36,493,000	-8.5%
30.	Nepal	$34,105,000	-42.9%
31.	Thailand	$33,573,000	+27.5%
32.	Syria	$31,731,000	+8.6%
33.	Afghanistan	$29,567,000	-46.1%
34.	Japan	$29,162,000	+118.6%
35.	Slovakia	$27,652,000	-26.9%
36.	Switzerland	$27,548,000	+24.2%
37.	Sri Lanka	$27,274,000	-36.1%
38.	Singapore	$25,909,000	-2.1%
39.	Denmark	$25,067,000	-29.6%
40.	Norway	$24,225,000	-17.9%
41.	Sweden	$23,781,000	+10.1%
42.	Indonesia	$23,642,000	+34%
43.	Mozambique	$21,742,000	+16.8%
44.	Morocco	$20,969,000	-30.7%
45.	El Salvador	$20,608,000	+16.8%
46.	Oman	$20,476,000	-32.7%
47.	Israel	$20,227,000	-14.7%
48.	Taiwan	$18,492,000	-11.1%
49.	Lebanon	$18,285,000	-41.9%
50.	South Korea	$17,797,000	+15%
51.	Croatia	$17,760,000	+15.4%
52.	Slovenia	$16,368,000	-33.4%
53.	Mauritania	$15,330,000	+6.9%
54.	Ivory Coast	$15,278,000	+37.9%
55.	Hong Kong	$15,183,000	+6.4%
56.	Mali	$14,581,000	+35%
57.	Philippines	$13,592,000	+6.8%
58.	Pakistan	$12,876,000	-33.1%
59.	Qatar	$12,858,000	-32.5%
60.	Turkey	$12,117,000	-29.5%
61.	Belarus	$11,742,000	+83.3%
62.	Dominican Republic	$11,679,000	+49.6%
63.	Fiji	$11,653,000	-8.3%
64.	Tunisia	$11,283,000	-33.3%
65.	Bulgaria	$11,052,000	+1.5%
66.	Trinidad/Tobago	$10,926,000	-1.1%
67.	Senegal	$10,536,000	-38%
68.	Honduras	$10,318,000	+21.7%
69.	Luxembourg	$10,137,000	-0.9%
70.	Latvia	$9,872,000	+45.7%
71.	Somalia	$9,669,000	+61.9%
72.	Zimbabwe	$9,254,000	+96%
73.	Serbia	$8,987,000	+45%
74.	Kuwait	$8,919,000	-76.2%
75.	Cyprus	$8,642,000	+62.8%
76.	Brazil	$8,605,000	-5.7%
77.	Namibia	$8,435,000	-10.4%
78.	Kazakhstan	$8,231,000	+85.3%
79.	Botswana	$8,153,000	+15%
80.	Uganda	$8,071,000	+62.2%
81.	Mauritius	$7,715,000	+21.7%
82.	Cuba	$7,518,000	+43.8%
83.	Paraguay	$7,303,000	+26.6%
84.	Bosnia/Herzegovina	$6,800,000	-18.8%
85.	Moldova	$6,347,000	-57.7%
86.	Jordan	$5,757,000	-21.5%
87.	Finland	$5,717,000	+14.1%
88.	Libya	$5,479,000	-10.1%
89.	Lithuania	$5,062,000	+39.4%
90.	Bahrain	$4,608,000	-62.3%
91.	Tajikistan	$4,371,000	+7.7%
92.	Guatemala	$4,137,000	-17.3%
93.	Albania	$4,113,000	-24.8%
94.	Sudan	$3,973,000	+12.6%
95.	Gambia	$3,913,000	+581.7%
96.	Maldives	$3,842,000	+4.2%
97.	Jamaica	$3,659,000	+29.3%
98.	Barbados	$3,608,000	+9.8%
99.	Lesotho	$3,425,000	+54.7%
100.	Guyana	$3,229,000	-2.2%

Posting triple-digit increases in their imports of potatoes are Gambia (up 581.7% from 2020), Vietnam (up 358.5%) and Japan (up 118.6%).

Leading the year over year decliners were potato importers in Kuwait (down -76.2%), Bahrain (down -62.3%), Moldova (down -57.7%) and the United Kingdom (down -49.8%).

You can change the presentation order by clicking the triangle icon at the top of any of the columns above. An entry of 0% in the right-most column means that no 2020 data was available.

See also Potatoes Exports by Country, Sweet Potatoes vs Yams by Export Sales, Unit Price & Weight, Belgium’s Top Trading Partners and Netherlands Top 10 Imports

Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Imports – Commodities. Accessed on June 21, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on June 21, 2022

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on June 21, 2022

Wikipedia, Potato. Accessed on June 21, 2022