Exclusive: Asian Demand Drives US Exports of French Fries in 2016

It appears that more and more consumers in Asian countries are getting a taste for French fries, says the editor of WorldPotatoMarkets.com, Cedric Porter, after the statistical summary of Potatoes USA showed a good performance for the US potato exports in Asia.

“The US performed well in South East Asian markets, where despite supplying higher priced products than its mainly European competitors demand for high quality US product was strong. Growth was particularly strong outside China and Japan, especially in places such as the Philippines and South Korea. It appears that more and more consumers are getting a taste for French fries,” Porter comments.

In 2017 it is possible that the American exports will slow down, compared to 2016, when they reached a higher level of USD1,726,920,330, according to Potatoes USA.

“US exports may not be as strong in 2017 as 2016, partly because the US dollar remains expensive against other currencies, including the euro. Demand in China is also expected to ease as production of fries in the country increases, US or often in partnership with European companies,” Porter added.