South Korea: Overall Potato Consumption Remains Steady but Consumer Preferences Shift Toward Imported Potatoes
Korean potato production is expected to increase to 530,000 metric tons (MT) in Calendar Year (CY) 2018, as potato farmers respond to higher prices caused by low supply in CY 2017. Overall consumption is expected to remain steady, but consumers continue to shift away from fresh domestic potato consumption and toward consumption of imported potatoes and imported processed potato products (including potatoes used for chipping and French fries). U.S. exports of fresh table potatoes are projected to increase in CY 2018 following the resumption of trade from states in the Pacific Northwest after the resolution of a phytosanitary issue (zebra chip).
