Potatoes USA: Frozen and Fresh Exports up, Dehydrates down

Total U.S. frozen potato exports recovered in March, up 17% over March 2016 and bringing the total for the first three-quarters of the marketing year to 754,953 metric tons, up 3% over the same period last fiscal year, according to Potatoes USA’s data.

The March recovery was led by the Philippines up 57%, Mexico 38%, Taiwan 36%, Indonesia 31%, Japan 28% and Korea 25%. The only real drag on exports to Potatoes USA target markets was China down 31% for the month and now off 30% for the marketing year.

Total Fresh potato exports were up 18% for March and at 318,977 metric tons are now up 10% for the marketing year. Canada continues to contribute substantially to this growth up 47% for the month and 18% on the marketing year for a total of 134,431 MT. For the Potatoes USA target markets, a slight decline was recorded for the month with Japan off 12%, Korea down 71%, the Philippines off 62% and Taiwan down 34%. On the positive side, Malaysia was up 120% and Mexico up 7% for March.

Total U.S. dehy exports had much smaller declines than early in the marketing year but were still down 2% for March and at 88,199 metric tons are now down 15% for the marketing year. Exports to the Potatoes USA target markets in Asia were actually up 18% in March led by increases of 168% to Korea, 135% to Japan and 29% to Malaysia. China, Indonesia, Mexico, Taiwan and the Philippines were all down for the month.