The Chinese fries market is growing rapidly, but there are some barriers to foreign suppliers. According to the US Department of Agriculture, it became known that the production of Chinese potatoes in 2019-2020 is estimated at 98 million metric tons.
Potatoes are the staple product of many European nations, but they play a supporting role in Chinese cuisine. In spoken Chinese, it is known as tudou (literally: “Earthen bean”), or malingshu (“horse bell tuber”) in official texts. These names indicate that potatoes were previously regarded as a vegetable in Chinese cooking. In Northwest China (Shanxi, Inner Mongolia), where potatoes are indigenous, potatoes are added to stews.
In 2015, the Chinese government launched a plan to make potatoes the fifth staple food in the country after rice, wheat, soybeans, and corn. However, then this did not have a significant effect on potato production. Earlier in China, potatoes were used as in Europe, onions or carrots are used. It was added in order to make the dish hearty.
Did you know? Sweet potatoes are often cooked in China. This dish makes dessert more satisfying. Sweet potatoes can be found in different forms - in the form of balls or in the form of marine figures. Also, to sweet potatoes, Chinese cooks add corn.
Interest in potatoes in China has grown significantly. It is possible that this is due to an increase in the number of tourists in the country. But some, far from the center, cities still eat rice. In little-visited villages, potatoes are almost impossible to find on the market.
Only 10% of the products are processed into semi-finished products. In recent years, China's rapidly changing food habits have led to the rapid development of the fast food industry. Chinese consumers, especially in urban areas, have adopted western fast-food restaurants serving French fries and other popular side dishes. Such eateries have already entered into the everyday life of China.
The production of frozen French fries in China in 2019/2020 is projected at 310,000 metric tons, which is 10% more than in 2018/2019 as a result of an increase in the production of fresh potatoes.
The country imports most of the frozen fries from the United States. However, due to additional tariffs imposed by Beijing on many US agricultural products amid ongoing trade tensions between the two countries, the share of American companies in the Chinese market fell from 64% in 2016-2017 to 53% in 2018/2019.
As a result, according to forecasts for 2019-2020, the import of frozen French fries from China will decrease by 10%, to 129,000 metric tons. The following major suppliers, Belgium, Turkey and the Netherlands, together accounted for 40% of Chinese imports of frozen french fries, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
- This year, potato growers in the United States were hit by climatic surprises as cold weather and freezing damaged potato crops in major states such as Idaho and North Dakota, which currently jeopardize the production of french fries in a country that is a favorite dish of Americans.
- West Bengal is expected to produce 10% more potatoes this year than last year, said Tarun Kanti Ghosh, president of the West Bengal Cold Storage Association, at its 55th annual general meeting, held today in Calcutta.
- The Irish Farmers Association (IFA) estimates that 5% of the potato crop nationwide remains in the fields.
