The supply relief valve finally opened in February, following slow export movement during previous three months. The U.S. exported 625.38 million cwt of potatoes and potato products (raw product equivalent) during February, up 9.5% from a year ago. That is the largest February export volume since 2016. Fresh potato exports totaled 1.070 million cwt during the month. That exceeded year-earlier movement by 312,000 cwt, or 41.2%. Shipments to Mexico jumped by 175.8%, to a record 592,600 cwt. French fry and other frozen product exports increased by 6.1%, relative to a year earlier. Dehydrated product and potato chip exports increased by 2.0% and 4.8%, respectively.
Canada held 52.39 million cwt of potatoes in storage on April 1. That is 5.82 million cwt more than the April 1 inventory, a 12.5% increase. Most of the extra potatoes are in Alberta and Manitoba, though stocks are also up in Ontario. The largest percentage gain was in processing potato inventories, up 24% from last year. Stocks intended for table potato sales dropped by 8.3%, while seed potato inventories fell by 5.6%. Canada’s March potato disappearance totaled 11.63 million cwt, which nearly matched the 2023 pace.
Quebec’s April 1 processing stocks (chip and fry quality potatoes) totaled 2.051 million cwt. That is 224,000 cwt less than the year-earlier inventory, but it is Quebec’s fourth-largest April 1 processing inventory on record. Ontario held 2.216 million cwt of chip potatoes on April 1. That is 416,000 cwt more than the province held a year earlier. It is Ontario’s second-largest April 1 inventory on record. Ontario’s March processing use fell 26.3% short of the 2023 pace, while usage appeared to be relatively flat in Quebec. At the March usage rate, Ontario’s storage chip potato supplies would last through the end of July. Quebec’s processing potatoes would last until mid-September, at last month's usage rate.
U.S. packers shipped 1.686 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending April 6. That is up from 1.645 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 82,391cwt of potatoes during the week ending April 6. That is up from 82,255 cwt shipped during the same week in 2023. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 78.4% russets, 15.1% yellow potatoes, 4.9% round white potatoes, and 1.6% red potatoes.
USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A russets in 10-pound bags for $9-$13.75 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling size A russets in 5-pound bags for $10-$14.75 per 50-pound bale, also unchanged. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $8-$9 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $10-$12 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $12.25 per cwt, down from $12.46 per cwt last week.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $21-$22 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $28-$32 per 50-pound box. Florida packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 5-pound film bags for $21.95-$28.25 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for $20.95-$28.25 per box, also unchanged. Florida packers are also selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $35.95-$40.25 per box, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for $36.90-$38.90 per cwt, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $35.25-$38.95 per box, unchanged from last week.
− Report by North American Potato Market News