February U.S. chip potato shipments exceeded 2022 movement by 1.2%. At 4.66 million cwt, that is 54,000 cwt more than the industry shipped a year earlier.
Strong shipments from Wisconsin (+264,000 cwt) and the Southwest region (+184,000 cwt) were the largest factors in the increase. Shipments from North Dakota (+59,000 cwt) and the Midwest region (+28,000 cwt) also increased.
In contrast, reported February chip potato movement fell short of the 2022 pace in several areas. Michigan (-217,000 cwt), the Rocky Mountain region (-139,000 cwt), New York (-82,000 cwt), Maine (-27,000 cwt), and Pennsylvania (-19,000 cwt) each posted reduced movement during February.
Chip potato shipments from the West Coast and Midcentral regions nearly matched year-earlier movement. Season-to-date chip potato shipments (August-February) totaled 31.03 million cwt. That falls 739,000 cwt, or 2.3% short of year-earlier movement. Chip potato markets remain quiet. Buyers appear to have plenty of storage potatoes to carry them through the season.
U.S. fourth quarter potato chip exports (mostly product fabricated from potato flakes) totaled 30.02 million lbs. That is 3.43 million lbs more than year-earlier exports, a 12.9% increase. Reduced shipments to Canada and the Asia-Pacific region were offset by strong exports to the other major markets. The 12.9% increase in October-December chip exports followed a 9.4% increase during the third quarter and a 6.7% decline during the second quarter.
U.S. packers shipped 1.525 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending February 25. That is down from 1.558 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan’s reported shipments totaled 47,200 cwt of potatoes during the week ending February 25. That is down from 59,800 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 91.4% russets, 5.2% round white potatoes, and 3.3% yellow potatoes.
The USDA reports that Michigan packers are selling size A Russets in 10-pound bags for $16-$17 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $14.50-$15.50 per 50-pound bale, up from $14-$15 per 50-pound bale a week ago. They are selling russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $26-$32 per 50-pound box, unchanged from last week. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $35.62 per cwt. That is down from $35.69 per cwt a week ago.
Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $27-$28 per cwt, unchanged from a week ago. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound sacks for mostly $30, also unchanged. Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow new-crop potatoes for $25.95-$30.25 per box, unchanged from last week. They are selling yellow creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.25-$46 per box, also unchanged.
Florida packers are selling 50-pound cartons of size A round white new-crop potatoes for $38.25-$40.95 per box. They are selling round white creamers in 50-pound cartons for $45.95-$50.95 per box.
– Report by North American Potato Market News