The U.S. exported 6.54 million cwt of potatoes and potato products (raw product equivalent) during September. That exceeded year-earlier shipments by 754,000 cwt, or 13.0%. Exports of french fries and other frozen products (+12.0%), fresh potatoes (+9.1%), dehydrated products (+26.5%), and potato chips (+2.4%) increased significantly, relative to the previous year. The value of September potato imports exceeded the value of exports by $8.40 million. That is the smallest September potato trade deficit since 2000.
U.S. packers shipped 1.903 million cwt of table potatoes during the week ending Nov. 4. That is up from 1.881 million cwt shipped a year earlier. Michigan packers shipped 72,520 cwt of potatoes during the week ending Nov. 4. That is down from 63,800 cwt during the same week in 2022. Last week’s Michigan shipments were 90.7% russets, 5.9% yellow potatoes, 2.8% round white potatoes, and 0.6% red potatoes.
Wisconsin packers are selling size A russet potatoes in 10-pound bags for mostly $12 per 50-pound bale, unchanged from last week. They are selling Russet 40-70 count cartons for mostly $12.50-$14 per 50-pound box, also down from $12.50-$15 per 50-pound box a week ago. The weighted average shipping point price for Idaho Russet Norkotahs is $17.45 per cwt, unchanged from last week.
Wisconsin packers are selling 10/5-pound bales of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16 per bale, unchanged from a week ago mostly $16 per bale. They are selling 50-pound cartons of size A yellow potatoes for mostly $16 per 50-pound box, also unchanged. Red River Valley packers are selling size A yellow potatoes in 2,000-pound tote bags for mostly $22 per cwt, unchanged from last week.
– Report by North American Potato Market News