Potato market in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018, the fresh potato market in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia was characterized by saturation and declining retail sales, particularly in Russia, leading to a steady contraction in market volume. Import flows also shifted, with Russian imports falling after a previous surge in 2018, while in Ukraine, dumped imports from Russia in 2019 pressured local producers.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 affected demand and logistics, coinciding with major agro-industrial companies in Russia actively expanding potato processing capacity by installing lines for frozen products. This diversion of raw material into processing reduced volumes available for the fresh market.

Beginning in 2022, the war in Ukraine sharply altered the market: mutual imports halted, Ukrainian production fell due to reduced planted area, and Russian investments in processing continued. These factors drove a further decline in the total fresh potato market volume to 53.3 million tonnes by 2023.

Production potato in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of potato, 2017-2020

World map of production of potato, 2017-2020

Potato production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 55 111 thousand tons of potatoes, which represents a 3.9% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 12.4%, with an average annual decline of 4.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

The value of potato production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) has dropped for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 16 462 million US dollars, marking a significant 15.6% decline from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production value decreased by 27.8%, translating to an average annual rate of 10.3%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 24 478 million US dollars. The sharpest decline occurred in 2019 with a 20.3% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 7.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports potato from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Exports in kind, K t

The data shows irregular fluctuations, pointing to a volatile market environment. Potato export volumes from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) varied significantly, with a 1.9-fold difference between the low in 2018 and the high in 2020. In 2020, the region exported 391 thousand tons of potatoes, reflecting a modest 7.6% increase year-over-year. The lowest volume was recorded in 2018 at 208 thousand tons. The largest decline occurred in 2018 with a 9.1% drop, while the biggest increase was in 2019 at 74.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, potato exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were distributed across numerous markets. Azerbaijan accounted for 12.1% of exports in kind, Uzbekistan for 4.5%, and Kazakhstan for 1.8%. Together, these three countries represented only 18.4% of total export flows, indicating a diverse market structure.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Following two years of growth, potato exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined in value. In 2020, exports totaled 116.7 million US dollars, a 5.6% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, export value increased by 40.4%, with an average annual growth rate of 12.0%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 123.6 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 48.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan played notable but not dominant roles as buyers of potatoes from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia). Azerbaijan accounted for 7.5% of exports in value terms, Uzbekistan for 4.0%, and Turkmenistan for 2.8%. Their combined share reached only 14.3% of total export value, highlighting the region's diversified export destinations.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020

Imports potato to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia)

Imports in kind, K t

After two years of growth, potato imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined in volume. In 2020, imports amounted to 1 234 thousand tons, a moderate 3.8% decrease from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import volume increased by 16.1%, with an average annual rate of 5.1%. The highest volume was recorded in 2019 at 1 283 thousand tons, which also experienced the largest increase of 10.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Egypt, Germany, and France were the largest suppliers of potatoes to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in terms of volume. Egypt accounted for 19.5% of imports in kind, Germany for 18.8%, and France for 9.2%. However, their combined contribution was limited to 47.5% of total import volume, reflecting a diversified supplier base.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

Following two years of increase, potato imports into Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) declined in value. In 2020, imports amounted to 453.1 million US dollars, showing a significant 15.1% decrease compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, import value rose by 13.1%, with an average annual rate of 4.2%. The peak value was recorded in 2019 at 533.6 million US dollars, which also saw the largest increase of 26.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

During 2017–2020, potato imports in value terms to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) were spread across many markets. Egypt accounted for 22.4% of imports in value terms, Germany for 13.6%, and France for 9.5%. Together, these three countries represented only 45.6% of total import flows, underscoring the region's broad sourcing strategy.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Europe (including Northern Asia) in value, 2017-2020