On the potato export market, the Ivory Coast comes out of a box like a jack-of-all-trades. Dutch potato trading houses account for the lion's share of the potato needs in the country. Compared to last year, exports in March were more than 80 percent higher.
Ivory Coast imported a total of 2.220 tons in March, of which more than 1.900 tons came from the Netherlands. That is an increase of 83 percent compared to March 2016, according to import data from the country. The average price per tonne is slightly lower than the level of March last year, at 209 euros.
Neighboring countries are giving in
Belgium and France both have to make significant concessions and exported 87 and 70 percent less respectively in March. Over the last 12 months, the Netherlands exported approximately 33.500 tons of potatoes to the African country. An increase of 15 percent compared to the 2015-2016 season.
Mauritania remains the largest market
Potato exports to Mauritania are slightly larger, according to figures from the NAO. These calculate the period up to and including March. That country was (still) in the lead at the time, although the difference is small. Compared to the previous season, less product was exported, while Ivory Coast actually achieved considerably higher exports. Volumes to other African countries are small. This often concerns volumes of around 200 tons per month.