The 2022 U.S. potato exports hit a new high of USD2.1bn in sales. Volume sales fell -4.2% compared to 2021, but were greater than in 2018 and 2020 (fresh weight comparable).

The value of US potato exports increased across all potato varieties (frozen, fresh, dehydrated, seed, and chips), representing an 11% rise over the previous year. This surge can be linked to global price increases and inflation.

Demand for potato products in the United States remained strong during 2022, indicating that the modest decline in export volume was due to a lack of availability. Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines were the leading export markets for US potatoes last year, in descending order.

The value of US frozen potato exports increased by 13.8% to USD1.34bn, while volume declined by -2.5% compared to 2021. Japan, Mexico, South Korea, and the Philippines were the main destinations for frozen potatoes from the United States. sales to Japan and South Korea climbed in 2022, while sales to Mexico and the Philippines declined marginally compared to 2021.

Fresh potato sales in the United States increased by 9% to USD287m, but shipment volume, which includes both table-stock and chipped potatoes for processing, declined by -9.7%. Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Taiwan were the main fresh potato export markets for the United States. While fresh shipments to most destinations fell, improving market access for U.S. fresh potatoes beyond Mexico’s border region resulted in an almost 10% rise in fresh shipments to Mexico.

The value of dehydrated potatoes climbed by 1.1% in 2022, reaching USD217.6m for the year. However, the volume of dehydrated potato shipments in the United States fell -3.2%. In 2022, the biggest markets for US dehydrated potatoes were Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the United Kingdom. sales of dehydrated potatoes to Canada and the United Kingdom increased in 2022 compared to 2021, but sales to Mexico and Japan fell.

Despite accounting for a lesser part of US potato exports, the shipment volume of seed potatoes and finished chips climbed by 28.8% and 2.2%, respectively, in 2022 compared to 2021. In 2022, the export value of seed potatoes was USD16.3m, while potato chips were worth USD211.6m.

“Throughout the year, maintaining a consistent supply of U.S. potato products was a significant challenge for exports. By year-end, the U.S. potato supply stabilized in some export markets, including South Korea and Myanmar. Despite inflation-driven price increases of U.S. products, global demand for U.S. potatoes remained strong. Importers, foodservice operators, and retailers in key markets reported their preference for U.S. potatoes over competitor products, and several buyers returned to purchasing U.S. potatoes when supply became available again,” the Potatoes USA experts say.