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Hot Markets for Frozen Fries: U.S. Exports Bag Another Record
Markets remain hot for frozen
french fries as more quick-service restaurants around the world
lure new customers to fast-food fare. So it's no surprise that
U.S. exports set another record in 1996/97, rising to 386,000
metric tons worth $286 million. Export tonnage has climbed 135
percent since the decade began. Today, nearly one in three U.S.
potatoes is sliced into fries, and around 12 percent of the fries
from domestic and imported spuds go to foreign markets. The
Netherlands is the world's largest french fry exporter, with the
United States and Canada vying for second spot. Competition is
stiff, but analysts expect U.S. export growth to be sustained by
continued expansion of fast foods abroad, aggressive promotion
and further tariff cuts under trade agreements.
Our No. 1 customer by far is
Japan, where more than 5,000 hamburger outlets (most representing
U.S. chains) are helping to cultivate a taste for "fries on the side." Japan took half of all
U.S. french fry exports in 1996/97, and U.S. firms supplied 87
percent of Japan's imports. Canada had a 10-percent share of this
market. While Japan clearly leads, many smaller markets have been
growing faster. Lining up behind Japan are several other East
Asian markets and our NAFTA partner, Mexico. Together, the six
smaller markets shown in the chart accounted for more than 30
percent of U.S. export volume. For now, economic woes in Asia
could slow U.S. sales growth in that region--even for something
that seems as affordable as a burger with fries.
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