Potatoes have a bright future in India. Consumption is rising sharply, and the population is also growing. This combination means the country's demand for potatoes is increasing significantly every year.
After China, India has the largest global potato production area. With several significant increases, cultivation in India has expanded in recent years to over 2,3 million hectares. China accounts for about a quarter of global production, with an area of just under 4,6 million hectares.
But what China lacks that India does have is a growing population. That's why India has surpassed China as the most populous country. And that growth is creating increased demand. In the past year, India's population has grown by about 14 million people. In two or three years, the country will have 1,5 billion inhabitants.
With the rise of fast-food chains in Asia, we're also seeing an increase in the consumption of potato products there. In India, potato and potato product consumption rose to around 28 kilograms in 2023, according to figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This increase has been particularly noticeable in recent years. Until 2021, production fluctuated around 25 kilograms per person for years.
The rise of the potato processing industry in India is therefore driven by a sharp increase in domestic demand for potatoes. These companies also see opportunities to expand into nearby export markets, including China. While China's population is shrinking, consumption has also increased significantly since 2021.
The difference, however, is that the Chinese are already at a level of 48 kilograms of potatoes and potato products per person. This means there's less room for further growth than in India. In India, consumption is currently slightly lower than the global average of around 31 kilograms per person.
Then there's Egypt. Another important growth market. The country has far fewer inhabitants than China or India. But there's strong growth in potato consumption. Annual consumption, however, does seem to depend somewhat on availability, as according to the FAO, nearly 40 kilograms were consumed per person in 2020. In 2023, this figure remained at 34,4 kilograms. This is all considerably more than the 27 to 29 kilograms consumed between 2010 and 2019.
Moreover, Egypt's population is still growing rapidly. In 2023, the country had 114 million inhabitants, and with growth of a remarkable 1,5% per year, it's now approaching 120 million. With more mouths to feed, potato consumption is seeing a significant boost.