Agriculture: Potato imports on the rise by 2.4 times in first four months of 2013

Imports of potatoes, fresh or refrigerated, grew by 2.4 times in the first four months of the year, compared to the same period of 2012, totaling 84,841.7 tones , according to data supplied by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) about foodstuff.

The value of these imports made from EU and non EU countries were close to 12 million euro in the first 4 months of 2013, compared to 4.448 million euro spent in the same period of 2012 for 35,655.8 tones.

On the other hand, only 2,748 tones of Romanian potatoes worth 607,582 euro were delivered in foreign markets while in the same period of 2012 incomes were 287,969 euro for a quantity of 2,771.2 tones.

According to Statistics data, the price of potatoes recorded an increase of 10.69% in the first 7 months compared to 2012, although potatoes were 11.61% cheaper than the previous month.

Romania’s potato production is 3-4 million tones per year, a quantity sufficient for domestic consumption of 2 million tones annually, but also for seed about one million tones) processing and fodder (40,000 tones), but potato imports are significant in the last years.

Potatoes are grown on an area of 240,000 ha in Romania every year. There are about 200 exploitations of over 10 ha, most of them being small producers with areas between 0.10 to 10 ha.

Romanians consume 92 kg/potatoes per capita on the average every year, ranking 4th in EU, after Portugal with 126.9 kg/capita/year, Ireland -118.7 kg/capita/year and Great Britain with 112.4 kg/capita/year.

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