U.S. potato and potato product exports grew 4.58 percent in volume and 4.63 percent in value in 2017 compared to 2016. The 1,763,235 metric tons in total exports sets another calendar year record. This growth occurred across all categories, with fresh potato exports leading the way, up 6 percent. Seed potato exports were reported up 225 percent, but much of this was misclassified fresh exports, according to Potatoes USA. Exports of dehydrated potato products were up 3 percent, with frozen and chip exports both up 1 percent.
On a fresh weight equivalent (fwe) basis, frozen potatoes still account for 53 percent of the total, with dehy at 24 percent and fresh at 15 percent. Japan remains the largest market, receiving 688,161 fwe metric tons (MT), followed by Canada with 658,201 MT and Mexico at 554,461 MT. South Korea is now the fourth largest market at 193,783 MT, with the Philippines at 167,919 MT.
