Potatoes: Movement

Why potatoes rarely leave Europe's neighbourhood

Why potatoes rarely leave Europe's neighbourhood What this tab covers How it flows between countries: the largest bilateral trade routes drawn on a world map, 2024 UN Comtrade export and import values with the top exporters and importers by share, plus shipping routes, chokepoints and trade restrictions.

Potatoes are traded far less than grains because they are bulky and perishable. Comtrade values 2023 exports of fresh or chilled potatoes (HS 0701) at $6.2 billion, and 2024 imports at a similar $6.2 billion, led by Belgium (18.6%), the Netherlands and Spain. The Netherlands (20.1%), France (17.9%) and Germany (11.3%) supply nearly half between them, mostly to other European buyers. Canada (7.6%) ships mainly to the United States, which exports 5.5% itself. Egypt (6.4%) sells early potatoes into Europe. Frozen fries travel under a separate HS code and are not counted here.

Where it is exported from and imported to, 2023

Chart: World map of the largest trade flows

Exporter (size = share of world exports) Importer (share of world imports) Shipping chokepoint UN Comtrade 2023. Bubbles: shares of reported world exports and imports for the main traded form. Country-to-country route lines are not available for this commodity yet. Hover a circle for values.

Potatoes · HS 0701

World exports 2023 $6.18 bn sum of 40 reporting countries World imports 2024 $6.16 bn sum of 40 reporting countries Top exporters, share of value Netherlands 20.1% France 17.9% Germany 11.3% Canada 7.6% Egypt 6.4% United States 5.5% Top importers, share of value Belgium 18.6% Netherlands 11.5% Spain 9.4% United States 6.3% Italy 6.1% Germany 5.6% UN Comtrade, reporter declarations to the world, US$. Exports and imports are reported separately, so totals differ. Re-exporting hubs (Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE) can appear large.