Potatoes USA is reporting that U.S. potato exports for the July 2019 – June 2020 marketing year (MY20), declined 2.6 percent in value and 2.2 percent for the fresh weight equivalent volume from the previous year’s record levels. These declines were due to the losses in sales during March – June due to the reduction in demand caused by the global pandemic.
U.S. exports started the marketing year very strong and were above MY19 levels through February. Exports began to decline in March with the largest reductions in June. However, many countries in Asia are now reopening and product that got backed up when restaurants and other establishments started closing in February have now been drawn down. It is expected that while exports for July and August will be below year-ago levels, the reductions should not be as great as they were in May and June.
The volume of U.S. exports of frozen potato products was down 4.28 percent for the marketing year. The declines were relatively evenly dispersed across markets, but of note were declines of 27 percent to China, 17 percent to Vietnam, 13 percent to Central America, and 6 percent to the Philippines. On the positive side, exports to Mexico were up 12% due to the recovery from significant losses the previous year from the 20 percent retaliatory tariff. Exports to Taiwan (which managed to avoid any significant COVID related restrictions) were up 7 percent, Thailand up 6 percent, and Japan up 0.2 percent.
The volume of U.S. dehydrated potato exports managed to end the year up 0.77 percent. Significant declines of 25 percent to Thailand, 20 percent to the Philippines, 11 percent to Taiwan, and 24 percent to Central America were offset by a 31 percent increase to the EU, a 23 percent increase to northern Africa and the Middle East, and a 32 percent increase to South Korea.
The volume of U.S. fresh potato exports dropped 3.67 percent for the marketing year due to a 5 percent decline to Canada, a 3 percent decline to Mexico, a 31 percent decline to Japan, and a 45 percent decline to Korea. Increases to several other markets helped make up for these declines, notably a 60 percent increase to the Philippines, a 34 percent increase to Taiwan, a 25 percent increase to Malaysia, and a 45 percent increase to Costa Rica. Fresh potato exports include both table-stock and chip-stock, as well as potatoes destined for frozen processing in Canada.
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