News on Potato Stats, Trade, Prices

Potato prices are expected to rise with this year’s average crop, ?bringing them back in line with the cost of production

Imports of potatoes to Romania, fresh or refrigerated, grew by 2.4 times in the first four months of this year, compared to the same period of 2012, totaling 84,841.7 tons.

The potato processing companies in the Netherlands have used significantly less potatoes in the month of July.

North American Potato Market News (NAPMN) is projecting a 22.6% production drop in the North Dakota Potato crop this fall.

The horticulture industry of Zimbabwe is calling for higher import tariffs on imported horticulture products to avert the collapse of the local industry.

US Consumers frustrated with historically high potato prices should look for some relief at the checkout lane soon when the late summer and fall crops start hitting store shelves.

Officials from Oregon and Washington are working on an upcoming joint trade mission to expand export opportunities for Northwest potatoes.

A recent study by Roy Morgan Research shows that potato chips are still Australia’s most popular snack food, with a third of Australians aged 14+ in the year to March 2013 buying the product in an average four-week period.

Sri Lanka has increased the tax on imported potatoes from Rs 15 to Rs 25 per kilo (from USD 0.11 to USD 0.19) to protect the interests of local potato farmers.

The price of potatoes in Brazil reached the highest level in the last 10 years. Farmers say that this increase is due to the reduction in the planted area and the lack of product on the market.

The Council of Agriculture and Water of the Spanish Region of Murcia estimates this year's potato production to reach 100,027 tonnes;an increase of 27% compared to the previous campaign.

The North-Western European Potato Growers (NEPG) has issued an updated estimate of planted area for the 2013 crop (at the start of July).

After many years of frustrating work to gain access to Brazil for U.S. seed potatoes as well as corresponding market development, U.S. seed potato growers are finally making sales.

South Africa and the European Union (EU) are headed for another bruising dispute over trade access. At issue this time around are frozen potato chips (frozen french fries) from the EU.

Potato prices in West Bengal may depreciate by 8% on the back of a better crop prospect in south India. The south Indian crop is expected to enter the market next month which is likely to push down prices at the retail level.

After four years of work, the National Potato Council (NPC) and the United States Potato Board (USPB) are pleased the government of the Philippines has revised its import requirements to allow for entry of U.S. fresh table-stock potatoes.

The Potato Council’s first estimate of total potato plantings for the 2013 crop year in Great Britain is 121,200 hectares.

Manitoba potato growers signed a contract with McCain Foods last week, but their prices won’t increase from last year.?