A MAJOR shift in the global potato industry is imminent as developing countries expand their market share in production and processing, according to RaboResearch, the knowledge and insights centre of global financial institution Rabobank.
The research centre is forecasting significant growth in the light potato market, particularly in processed products, with frozen chips gaining worldwide popularity.
International trade in frozen potato products grew sharply between 2019 and 2024, with exports rising from USD 7.7 billion to USD 13.2 billion. Local production of table and processing potatoes grew significantly as export costs increased. For example, China and India have shifted from being pure importers to exporters, thanks to significant expansion of their domestic processing capacities.
The rate of processed potato products per capita is still relatively low outside of America, Europe and Oceania, but it is increasing rapidly in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America and RaboResearch envisage they will continue to increase their potato cultivation and processing activites, thereby impacting on crop competitiveness and market growth.
