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Potato world

Developed

countries Developing

countries World

World potato production, 1991-2007

1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 Countries million tonnes Developed 183.13 199.31 177.47 174.63 165.93 166.93 160.97 159.97 159.89 Developing 84.86 101.95 108.50 128.72 135.15 145.92 152.11 160.01 165.41 WORLD 267.99 301.26 285.97 303.35 301.08 312.85 313.08 319.98 325.30 Source: FAOSTAT

Top potato producers, 2007 Quantity (tonnes) 1. China 72 040 000 Russian Fed. 2.Russian Fed. 36 784 200 3. India 26 280 000 4. United States 20 373 267 5. Ukraine 19 102 300 6. Poland 11 791 072 7. Germany 11 643 769 8. Belarus 8 743 976 9. Netherlands 7 200 000 10. France 6 271 000 Source: FAOSTAT

The world potato sector is undergoing major changes. Until the early 1990s, most potatoes were grown and consumed in Europe, North America and countries of the former Soviet Union. Since then, there has been a dramatic increase in potato production and demand in Asia, Africa and Latin America, where output rose from less than 30 million tonnes in the early 1960s to more than 165 million tonnes in 2007. FAO data show that in 2005, for the first time, the developing world's potato production exceeded that of the developed world. China is now the biggest potato producer, and almost a third of all potatoes is harvested in China and India.

Europe Latin

America Asia/Oceania Africa North America Production

quantity

Potato production, by region, 2007

Harvested area Quantity Yield hectares tonnes tonnes/hectare Africa 1 541 498 16 706 573 10.8 Asia/Oceania 8 732 961 137 343 664 15.7 Europe 7 473 628 130 223 960 17.4 Latin America 963 766 15 682 943 16.3 North America 615 878 25 345 305 41.2 WORLD 19 327 731 325 302 445 16.8 Source: FAOSTAT

Asia and Europe are the world's major potato producing regions, accounting for more than 80 percent of world production in 2007. While harvests in Africa and Latin America were far smaller, production was at or near record levels. North America was the clear leader in yields, at more than 40 tonnes per hectare.

Europe Latin

America Asia/Oceania Africa North America Consumption

(per capita)

Potato consumption, by region, 2005

Population Consumption Total food (t) kg per capita Africa 904 388 000 12 571 000 13.9 Asia/Oceania 3 934 644 000 94 038 000 23.9 Europe 739 203 000 64 902 000 87.8 Latin America 562 270 000 11 639 000 20.7 North America 330 400 000 19 824 000 60.0 WORLD 6 484 792 000 202 974 000 31.3 Source: FAOSTAT

Asia consumes almost half of the world's potato supply, but its huge population means that consumption per person was a modest 24 kg in 2005. The heartiest potato eaters are Europeans. Per capita consumption is lowest, but increasing, in Africa and Latin America.

Top potato consumers, 2005