US potato exports up during November following lackluster first quarter

After a lackluster first quarter to the 2018-19 year, U.S. potato exports were up during November.

According to U.S. International Trade Commission numbers compiled by North American Potato Market News, total exports were up 4.9 percent from November 2017. Most notably, frozen export totals rose 7.4 percent. Meanwhile, fresh (+1.7 percent), dehy (+1.1 percent) and chips (+0.7 percent) saw more modest increases.

The potato export calendar is measured from July 1 through June 30 annually. The first quarter (July through September) saw exports fall across the board. Frozen was down 6 percent, dehy 7 percent and fresh 12 percent.

The drop was largely attributed to tariffs levied by China and Mexico on frozen U.S. potatoes. While the tariffs remain in place, 2018 harvest shortfalls in Canada and Europe could be showing their effects. The European crop was down approximately 20 percent due to droughts, while the Canadian crop was down about 4 percent because of extremely wet harvest conditions.