Last year, €13.5 billion worth of (fresh and processed) potatoes were traded worldwide. At €7 billion, frozen exports' value far exceeded that of (fresh) ware potatoes' €3.4 billion. Internationally, €2.3 billion of other processed potato products and €700 million of seed potatoes were traded. These figures exclude the often innovative products made from "starch" potatoes.
In Northwest Europe, most ware potatoes go to the (frozen food) sector. Large companies have branches in several countries in that region. That explains the extensive mutual trade between the major growing countries of France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
For the current season, a large harvest of 3.93 million tons is expected in the Netherlands despite 2022's rather prolonged dry spring and summer. In the last ten years, similar volumes were only reached in 2011 and 2017. Many other countries are not expecting such large harvests.
Seed potatoes are an entirely different story. About 1.5 million tons of these are harvested annually in the Netherlands. Globally, the Netherlands is by far the most important exporter. The starch potato market, too, is another story. This is a major product in the Netherlands, with an annual production of just under two million tons.
Global production mostly traded locally
Potatoes are cultivated all over the world, with China and India as the top production volume countries. Potatoes are traded globally too, but mostly between a limited number of countries in Western Europe and North America, with the major ware potato import and export countries concentrated in Western Europe. There, most consumption potatoes are destined for the processing industry, with large French fry processors having several factories in various countries.
(Contract) growers provide these potatoes - via brokering or not - to these factories per need and availability. This trade regularly crosses national borders in both directions. That relevancy, thus, comes into question when these potatoes are exported (and imported) from surrounding countries. All of northwestern Europe (Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and France) could, in fact, be considered one growing area.
Of the nearly four million tons the Dutch processing sector processed in the 2021/22 (July-June) season, 1.56 million tons, or 40%, came from overseas. Around three-quarters of the Dutch ware potato production goes to the local processing industry. Most of the consumption potatoes the Netherlands imports are destined for that industry.
Belgium exports €3 billion worth of frozen product
The Netherlands and Belgium are big in potatoes, especially as trading countries. Besides three to four million tons of ware potatoes, the Netherlands also produces many (1.5 million tons) seed and starch potatoes (1.8 million tons). Belgium grows 3.5 to four million tons of almost all consumption potatoes.
Last season, the Netherlands exported close to €3 billion worth of potatoes. That includes processed potatoes but excludes all kinds of derived products that use processed potatoes. Belgium's exports in the 2021/22 season amounted to almost €2.7 billion. That means the Low Countries are by far the world's top fresh and processed potato exporting countries. The United States and Canada follow with a total export value of around €1.5 billion.
In Belgium, frozen potato products exports dominate with three million tons, valued at €2.2 billion, traded last season. That country exports and imports comparatively few ware potatoes. The Netherlands imports and exports lots of consumption potatoes. However, with a value of €1.8 billion in the last season, frozen product exports are, by far, the most important category, value-wise.
Borders not important in potato world
According to different statistical offices, the Netherlands not only exported but also imported lots of ware potatoes last season. Eurostat and the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) show that the country exported 1.6 million tons of consumption potatoes. That was a lot compared to previous seasons. The Belgian (frozen) industry is by far the most important buyer, with a volume of 745,000 tons in the past season. Belgian figures show that that country imported somewhat less - 660,000 tons - from the Netherlands.
Almost all imports destined for the industry
The Netherlands also imports lots of ware potatoes, most of which go to the industry. In the past season, the Netherlands imported no less than 1.9 million tons. According to CBS/Eurostat, the vast majority (1.3 million tons) were imported from Germany. That country's export figures, however, do not reflect such a large quantity. At 900,000 tons, though considerably lower, it is still quite substantial.
Belgium and France trail far behind as consumption/industry potato suppliers to the Netherlands. Remarkably, Dutch imports figures of 300,000 tons from Belgium last season are considerably lower than the Belgian export figure of 750,000 tons to the Netherlands.
It seems there is generally plenty of ware/industry potato trade between the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and, to a slightly lesser extent, France, but the figures do not always match up well. Dutch consumers are estimated to buy just under 300,000 tons of (table) potatoes, a small part of which concerns spring imports.
France, Germany, major exporters
France is the world's largest consumption potato exporter, with that even reaching 2.5 million tons last season. Belgium and Spain are the two largest buyers, with Italy and Portugal following. France exports around 90,000 tons to the Netherlands and only modestly to non-European Union countries.
With nearly two million tons last season, Germany is the world's second-largest ware potato exported. The Netherlands was by far their top buyer, with Belgium and Italy trailing far behind. Germany, too, exports relatively small quantities to countries outside the EU.
The US (2021: 560,000 tons) trails the Netherlands and Belgium as an export country. Then comes Iran (also 560,000 tons), Egypt (460,000 tons), Pakistan and Canada (both 430,000 tons), China (390,000 tons), India (350,000 tons), and Spain (330,000 tons).
Besides the Netherlands and Belgium, Spain imports the third-most consumption potatoes in the world. Last season that was 850,000 tons. France is, by far, their top supplier. Other larger ware potato importing countries are Italy, Uzbekistan, Russia, Germany, the United States, Portugal, Nepal, France, and Afghanistan.
Last season, Belgium and the Netherlands had record frozen potato exports
Belgium, in particular, sends lots of potatoes to its frozen foods industry. Last season, they exported no less than three million tons of frozen potato products worth €2.23 billion. Belgium exports to many countries, with more than 10,000 tons to about 40. France is their main customer, followed by the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Spain.
Brazil is the top further market for Belgian frozen fries. The US follows, taking a record 200,000 tons last season. Canada is by far the United States' most important frozen potato products supplier, sending them over 1.1 million tons of these products last season. Of all Belgian exports, just under half go to non-European Union countries.
Last season, the Netherlands exported two million tons of frozen potato products. That is much more than both previous seasons when exports fell short of the two million-ton mark. The Netherlands, too, exports to many countries, with the UK as its top buyer. Germany, Belgium, France, and Saudi Arabia follow. More than half of Dutch frozen potato products are exported to countries outside the EU.
Dutch seed potato exports lagged last season
Seed potatoes are an entirely separate market. Its location (close to the sea) and know-how make the Netherlands a major global player. Last season, Eurostat/CBS figures show that the Netherlands exported about 800,000 tons of seed potatoes. That was less than in 2020/21 and even less than in previous seasons. In 2016/17, this source indicates it could have been close to a million tons. The Netherlands has, for years, been producing about 1.5 million tons of seed potatoes annually.
If the figures from various countries are correct, the Netherlands represents about half the international seed potato trade. Dutch seed potatoes go all over, with 55 to 60% directed to European Union countries; Belgium being the most important. Outside the EU, the North African countries of Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco are the main buyers. Other customers include Israel, Cuba, Iraq, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Pakistan.
Starch potatoes
Every year, the Netherlands cultivates around two million tons of starch potatoes. This is a very distinctive market, and very diverse, often innovative products are made from these potatoes.
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For more information:
Jan Kees Boon
Fruit and Vegetable Facts
Website: www.fruitandvegetablefacts.com
Email: fruitvegfacts@gmail.com