US potato and product exports were a record $1,350,213,480 and 1,366,649 metric tons for the July 2010-June 2011 fiscal year.

This is a 15 percent increase in value and 11 percent increase in volume.

On a fresh weight equivalent basis, this represents over 59 million hundredweight of fresh potatoes that were exported, or approximately 16 percent of total US production.

Frozen potato products were still the largest category, accounting for 60 percent of the total at $808 million. Japan remains the largest market at $294 million.

Despite the poor economic performance in that country over the past five years and the devastation from the earthquake and tsunami, exports still increased by 43 percent from FY07 to FY11.

Exports to Canada were $83 million. China is now the third largest export market for US frozen potatoes at $62 million, followed by Mexico at $57 million and South Korea at $49 million.