Compared to the same period the previous year, the export value of all American potato varieties (frozen, fresh, dried, seed, and chips) increased from July to September of 2023. The total value of U.S. potato exports rose 10.8% to USD607m, while the amount of exports increased marginally (0.2%) to 452,000 metric tons (fresh weight equivalent).

“The increase in total exports was bolstered by strong demand for fresh potatoes, exports of which were up 10.4% by volume and 10.1% by dollar value in July-September 2023. Fresh export volume rose significantly in Mexico (48.8%), representing an increase of over 17,300 metric tons from the previous year. The increase in shipments to Mexico comes as the country’s entire market opened to U.S. fresh potato exports in May 2022. At the same time, fresh potato exports to Canada were down 3.3%. compared to 2022, and exports to Taiwan were down 6%,” based on the latest available Potatoes USA intel.

Over the three months, total exports of frozen potatoes increased in value by 11.6% but decreased in volume by 8.6%. The Philippines had a 5% increase in frozen exports, while the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region witnessed a 3% gain in volume. Nonetheless, shipments decreased by 27% to South Korea, 45% to Malaysia, and 20% to Japan.

Between July and September, total exports of dehydrated potatoes increased by 8.9% in dollar value and 13.3% in volume. This growth was primarily driven by increases of 20% and 34% in volume to Japan and Central America, respectively. Nonetheless, exports of dehydrated potatoes were lower in a few smaller export destinations, such as Taiwan (-75%) and Thailand (-38%).

Even though they make up a lesser share of potato exports from the U.S., potato chips saw a 0.3% value increase and a 1.3% volume reduction. The value and volume of seed potato exports rose by 10.7% and 25.0%, respectively.