Potato exports up to and including September are still lagging behind the same period last season. Belgium, France and Germany are the largest customers. This is evident from the latest data from the Netherlands Potato Organization (NAO). Sales to Africa, on the other hand, are much better than last year.
In the month of September, the countries in the European Union accounted for an export volume of 24.327 tons. Including Africa, America and Asia, the export volume amounts to 51.719 tons. Up to and including September this concerns a volume of 94.421 tons. This is considerably lower than last year in the same period, when the volume to the European countries amounted to 130.516 tons. Total exports up to and including September amount to 150.547 tons, which is 10.000 tons lower than last year. At that time, 160.083 tons of potatoes had been exported during this period.
Largest customers
Belgium is by far the largest customer in the European Union. This concerns a volume of 15.242 tons. Up to and including September the volume will be 55.447 tons, although this is still considerably less than last season. In 2019, exports at this time of year amounted to 86.813 tons. In second place is Germany, with a volume of 2.907 tons, bringing the total to 19.798 tons. The top 3 is closed by France, with a volume of 2.502 tons. So far, 8.349 tons have been exported to the country. This is slightly less than last year, when the counter stood at 10.053 tons up to and including September.
The export to Africa, on the other hand, is well ahead of the previous season. In September, 19.365 tons were exported to the continent. That is more than the total volume in the period from January to September 2019 (15.604 tons). Until September 2020, exports to Africa will amount to 36.550 tons. Senegal is the largest buyer, with 7.953 tons in September. The total to that country this year amounts to 13.037 tons.