Never before have so many seed potatoes been sold outside the country's borders in one year as in 2022. The exported volume is almost 10% higher than a year earlier and 5% higher than the previous record dating from 2016. Africa and Asia purchased considerably more seed potatoes. Less starting material was shipped to European countries.
According to the latest Numbers of the Dutch Potato Organization (NAO), the counter stood at 31 tons of seed potatoes on December 383.010. A year earlier that was 33.820 less. This also breaks the export record of 2016 (363.751 tons). Whether the season record for 2022/23 will also be broken depends on the first months of this year.
Sales in Asia and Africa have grown
Asia shows the greatest growth in export volume: 20.457 tons more than in 2021. In absolute tons, the growth is greatest in Saudi Arabia. That country imported 19.000 tons, almost half more than in 2021. Syria, Bangladesh and Iraq also bought considerably more seed potatoes. Africa also bought more seed potatoes. The total for 2022 is 171.755 tons. That is almost 17.000 tons more than was exported in 2021. Algeria, Senegal, Sudan and Tunisia in particular have purchased more Dutch seed potatoes. The volume exported to Egypt is slightly lower than in 2021.
Closer to home, within the EU, exports over the past calendar year, at 88.674 tonnes, are 3.500 tonnes lower than a year earlier. Especially because Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal purchased fewer Dutch potters. The export of seed potatoes to neighboring country Belgium is ahead of a year earlier, with almost 26.000 tons. The balance on December 31, 2021 was 24.405 tons.
Exports of ware potatoes are growing
The export of consumer and industrial potatoes is also good. The volume of almost 405.000 tons, exported in calendar year 2022, is not a record, but it is close. It is the largest volume in three years. The two major export drivers are Belgium and Senegal.
The export figure for Belgium in particular is exceptional. In the whole of 2022, the country imported 185.000 tons of potatoes from the Netherlands. That is 50% more than was the case in 2021. This characterizes the chip potato market in which Belgian processors were (and are) eagerly looking for sufficient potatoes. France also bought more potatoes. This concerns over 26.000 tons, which is 36% more than in 2021. Germany was actually less active in the market. Exports fell 42% last year with only 26.630 tons.
Exports to EU countries thus amount to 281.000 tons, compared to 216.665 tons a year earlier. The import of potatoes is also large. Up to January 2022, 1 tons of harvest 112.875 had been imported from other countries, including almost 5.000 tons of starch potatoes.
Senegal is a major customer
With 30.721 tons, Senegal purchased 2022% more potatoes in 46 than in 2021. Exports to Mauritania also increased slightly. This makes up for lower volumes at destinations such as Gambia, Ivory Coast and Mali. Bottom line, the difference with 2021 is negligible. In total this amounts to well over 79.000 tonnes. Exports to American countries were slightly higher last year. Asian countries and European countries that are not in the EU record a slightly lower result.