Mar 28, 2019U.S. potato exports see boon during January
After a somewhat down month of December, U.S. potato exports ballooned during January, rising 19.4 percent year over year.
According to numbers from the U.S. International Trade Commission database compiled by North American Potato Market News, January exports totaled nearly 629 million pounds. It was the highest January total since 2015.
The spike was highlighted by frozen exports jumping 21 percent to 183.4 million pounds — a record — and dehy rising 27 percent to 26 million pounds. Fresh exports also rose by 8.5 percent. Chip exports saw a 1.5 percent decrease.
The January numbers further show a rollercoaster trend for the 2018-19 season, which began July 1, 2018. First-quarter (July-September) numbers were down, followed by a spike during November and then another drop in December.
Fresh exports rise during second quarter
Overall fresh potato exports rose 5.5 percent during the second quarter (October-December). Top importers of U.S.-produced fresh potatoes were Mexico at 640 cwt, Canada (548 cwt) and South Korea (400 cwt).
