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Since 2005, the U.S. potato industry has enjoyed a trade surplus in potatoes and potato products. Net export value (U.S. exports minus imports) of potatoes and potato products in 2007 totaled $224 million. Japan, Canada, and Mexico are the top three export markets; together, they account for two-thirds of total U.S. potato exports. Most exports consist of processed potatoes, such as frozen french fries, potato chips, and dehydrated potato products (e.g., potato flakes, granules, and flour).
Frozen french fries are the top potato product exported from the United States, accounting for more than half of total potato export volume. In 2007, exports of frozen french fries grew by 18 percent from 2006, with exports totaling nearly 1.5 billion pounds that were valued at $549 million. Aided by the weak dollar, 2007 proved a recordbreaking year for frozen-fry exports.
Potato chips and dehydrated potato products are also important export products. From 2003 to 2007, chip exports averaged 139 million pounds with a value of $172 million. During this same period, exports of dehydrated potato products averaged 127 million pounds with a value of $57 million.
Few fresh potatoes are exported from the United States, partly due to restrictive phytosanitary import regulations imposed by some foreign countries. Given close proximity to U.S. growing regions, Canada is the leading importer of U.S. fresh tablestock and seed potatoes. Mexico, the second largest foreign market, imports limited amounts of both fresh and seed potatoes. All fresh potatoes exported from the United States to Mexico are reportedly used for processing. Over the past 5 years, Canadian imports of fresh and seed potatoes averaged $73 million, while Mexico's imports averaged $16 million. Canadian imports are expected to grow in coming years due to the weak U.S. dollar. Mexico has limited growth potential due to restrictive phytosanitary regulations that apply to U.S. fresh and seed potatoes.
From 2003-07, the United States imported an average of $772 million in potatoes and potato products. Canada, Mexico, and the Netherlands are the largest suppliers of U.S. potato imports. Canada is the leading provider of potatoes, with most imports consisting of seed potatoes and processed products such as frozen french fries. Mexico mainly supplies chips, dehydrated products, and frozen french fries, while the Netherlands supplies potato starches and frozen french fries.
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