Potato chips are a popular crunchy snack notable for satisfying hunger pangs around the globe like when consumers are watching television, pleasure reading, picnicking or simply relaxing. Potato chips are America’s favorite snack food, according to the Just Fun Facts information portal.

Although potato chips are commonly classified as a junk food, a reasonably sized portion of potato chips contains dietary fiber, protein and potassium. Modest consumption of potato chips is thus a healthier option than gorging on candy treats packed with sugar and corn syrup.

Globally imported potato chips were worth US$2.744 billion in 2021. That dollar amount reflects a 14.1% increase from $2.41 billion for 2017. From 2020 to 2021, the value of worldwide imported potato chips appreciated by 9.9%.

The $2.744 billion spent on imported potato chips compares to $4.8 billion for fresh or chilled raw potatoes imported in 2021.

The 5 strongest consumer markets for importing potato chips purchased over a third (35% of the global total). The major markets for imported potato chips are the United States of America (10.1% of the global total), France (8.4%), Germany (6.6%), Canada (5%), and the Netherlands (4.9%).

Among these 5 key import markets for potato chips, the greatest buying increase from 2020 to 2021 was the 17.8% gain generated by importers in the world-leading United States of America. Other gains were posted by potato chips importers in Canada (up 10.8%), Germany (up 10.2%) and France (up 7.6%). The sole decline year over year belong to the Netherlands via a -0.5% reduction.

By comparing changes in consumer demand for imported potato chips by buyer country highlighted in this article, researchers can uncover the most compelling opportunities for selling potato chips and related products and services on international markets.

Potato Chips are a Consumer Convenience Product

Potato chips satisfy the criteria of a consumer good (also called an end product) created for consumers to buy in its final form to satisfy their snacking wants. In contrast, products like turbojets are usually purchased by companies or government entities rather than individuals.

Economists classify potato chips as convenience products, a technical classification for goods that are easily accessed and purchased relatively often. Many shoppers buy potato chips on weekly trips to their local grocery shops or even more frequently as a snack.

Based on statistics from EatByDate.com, an unopened package of potato chips can last up to 3 weeks past the package’s printed expiration date. An opened package of potato chips lasts 5 to 7 days if stored in the pantry.

Imported Potato Chips by Country

The pre-sorted list below showcases marketing intelligence for the top 100 buyers of potato chips, ranked in descending order starting with the greatest annual sales amount at the 6-digit Harmonized System (HS) code level. For potato chips, the HS code prefix is 200520.

Also shown is each import country’s change in international purchases from 2020 to 2021.

United States: US$277,780,000 (up 17.8% from 2020)
France: $229,262,000 (up 7.6%)
Germany: $181,959,000 (up 10.2%)
Canada: $137,424,000 (up 10.8%)
Netherlands: $135,201,000 (down -0.5%)
Belgium: $84,497,000 (up 18.5%)
Italy: $78,150,000 (up 25.7%)
United Kingdom: $78,025,000 (down -9.5%)
Spain: $73,821,000 (up 13.5%)
Denmark: $73,763,000 (up 20.3%)
Hong Kong: $64,499,000 (up 2.9%)
Singapore: $52,201,000 (up 4.8%)
Sweden: $48,746,000 (down -1.3%)
Russia: $45,765,000 (up 33.5%)
Ireland: $44,471,000 (down -30.5%)
Mexico: $44,198,000 (up 4.7%)
Kazakhstan: $43,072,000 (up 27.6%)
Japan: $42,613,000 (up 45.4%)
Hungary: $35,525,000 (up 10.7%)
Austria: $33,979,000 (up 4.1%)
Czech Republic: $33,212,000 (up 4.1%)
Belarus: $32,791,000 (up 1.1%)
Philippines: $30,196,000 (up 20.3%)
Bulgaria: $29,272,000 (up 28.5%)
Lithuania: $29,212,000 (down -10.1%)
Portugal: $27,568,000 (up 85.3%)
Finland: $27,256,000 (up 6.9%)
Slovakia: $24,346,000 (up 9.8%)
Poland: $23,092,000 (down -0.3%)
Iraq: $22,581,000 (down -13.2%)
Malaysia: $21,629,000 (up 19.5%)
Switzerland: $18,259,000 (up 8.3%)
China: $18,091,000 (up 43.6%)
Panama: $16,288,000 (up 41.4%)
Uzbekistan: $15,983,000 (up 69.2%)
New Zealand: $15,890,000 (up 28.7%)
Uruguay: $13,410,000 (up 7.9%)
Guatemala: $12,972,000 (up 48.4%)
Chile: $12,747,000 (up 9%)
Palestine: $12,717,000 (down -23%)
Estonia: $12,692,000 (up 11.8%)
Latvia: $12,609,000 (up 8%)
Azerbaijan: $12,423,000 (up 25.9%)
Luxembourg: $11,670,000 (up 11.3%)
Israel: $11,582,000 (up 50.8%)
Slovenia: $11,260,000 (up 11%)
Croatia: $11,188,000 (up 53.1%)
United Arab Emirates: $11,092,000 (down -5.1%)
South Korea: $10,993,000 (up 62%)
Taiwan: $10,953,000 (up 33.1%)
Greece: $10,924,000 (up 36.2%)
Australia: $10,770,000 (down -10.6%)
Morocco: $10,736,000 (up 38%)
El Salvador: $10,390,000 (up 33.2%)
Thailand: $10,168,000 (up 25.9%)
Romania: $10,114,000 (down -40.9%)
Libya: $9,506,000 (up 9.7%)
Dominican Republic: $9,328,000 (up 35.4%)
Mongolia: $9,210,000 (up 37.9%)
Ukraine: $9,207,000 (up 38.1%)
Jordan: $8,969,000 (down -46.1%)
North Macedonia: $8,655,000 (down -2%)
Serbia: $8,585,000 (up 29.1%)
Peru: $8,416,000 (up 33.6%)
Bosnia/Herzegovina: $8,133,000 (up 15.2%)
Norway: $7,943,000 (down -1.1%)
Qatar: $7,794,000 (down -29.9%)
Costa Rica: $7,564,000 (up 35.8%)
Moldova: $7,510,000 (up 31.8%)
Jamaica: $7,394,000 (down -11.5%)
Albania: $6,889,000 (up 40%)
Botswana: $6,786,000 (up 36%)
Namibia: $6,779,000 (down -3.5%)
Georgia: $5,767,000 (up 32%)
Macao: $5,719,000 (up 6.9%)
Kyrgyzstan: $5,567,000 (up 30.2%)
Paraguay: $5,482,000 (down -1%)
Kuwait: $5,321,000 (down -16.6%)
Colombia: $5,127,000 (up 38.5%)
Cyprus: $5,092,000 (up 32%)
Trinidad/Tobago: $5,033,000 (up 2%)
Armenia: $4,929,000 (up 32.5%)
Tunisia: $4,500,000 (up 13.7%)
Brazil: $3,891,000 (down -35.9%)
Malta: $3,827,000 (up 17.2%)
Iceland: $3,765,000 (up 13.1%)
Nicaragua: $3,764,000 (up 24.5%)
South Africa: $3,704,000 (down -5%)
Venezuela: $3,513,000 (up 249.9%)
Montenegro: $3,471,000 (up 24.4%)
Turkey: $3,229,000 (up 19.5%)
Tajikistan: $3,166,000 (up 30.1%)
Bolivia: $3,138,000 (up 6%)
Egypt: $3,006,000 (up 99.1%)
Barbados: $2,975,000 (up 1.2%)
Zimbabwe: $2,891,000 (up 523.1%)
French Polynesia: $2,877,000 (up 9.8%)
Brunei Darussalam: $2,793,000 (up 12.1%)
Argentina: $2,753,000 (down -79.2%)
Zambia: $2,687,000 (up 27.4%)

The top 5 importer countries (United States of America, France, Germany, Canada and the Netherlands) were responsible for over a third (35%) of global spending on potato chips imported in 2021.

Among the 100 strongest global markets, 78 countries increased their spending on imported potato chips. The 7 greatest percentage gains year over year were posted by Zimbabwe (up 523.1%), Venezuela (up 249.9%), Egypt (up 99.1%), Portugal (up 85.3%), Uzbekistan (up 69.2%), South Korea (up 62%) and Croatia (up 53.1%).

The most intense percentage declines for the remaining 22 potato chips-importing countries belonged to Argentina (down -79.2% from 2020), Jordan (down -46.1%), Romania (down -40.9%), Brazil (down -35.9%) and Ireland (down -30.5%).

Richest Global Markets for Imported Potato Chips

IIllustrated below is the market demand for potato chips imported during 2021 by 30 of world’s richest countries in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per person, according to RichestCountryReports.com.

Countries are listed in descending order starting with the wealthiest economy in terms of GDP per capita.

Luxembourg: US$11.7 million (Up 11.3% from 2020)
Singapore: $52.2 million (Up 4.8%)
Ireland: $44.5 million (Down -30.5%)
Qatar: $7.8 million (Down -29.9%)
Macao: $5.7 million (Up 6.9%)
Switzerland: $18.3 million (Up 8.3%)
United Arab Emirates: $11.1 million (Down -5.1%)
Norway: $7.9 million (Down -1.1%)
United States: $277.8 million (Up 17.8%)
Brunei Darussalam: $2.8 million (Up 12.1%)
Hong Kong: $64.5 million (Up 2.9%)
Denmark: $73.8 million (Up 20.3%)
Taiwan: $11 million (Up 33.1%)
Netherlands: $135.2 million (Down -0.5%)
Austria: $34 million (Up 4.1%)
Iceland: $3.8 million (Up 13.1%)
Andorra: $1.3 million (Up 7%)
Germany: $182 million (Up 10.2%)
Sweden: $48.7 million (Down -1.3%)
Australia: $10.8 million (Down -10.6%)
Belgium: $84.5 million (Up 18.5%)
Finland: $27.3 million (Up 6.9%)
Canada: $137.4 million (Up 10.8%)
Bahrain: $2.4 million (Down -11.6%)
France: $229.3 million (Up 7.6%)
Saudi Arabia: $2 million (Down -30.1%)
United Kingdom: $78 million (Down -9.5%)
Malta: $3.8 million (Up 17.2%)
South Korea: $11 million (Up 62%)
Kuwait: $5.3 million (Down -16.6%)

Among the above wealthiest economies per capita, 18 spent more on imported potato chips in 2021 compared to 2020. The leading gainers were South Korea (up 62% from 2021), Taiwan (up 33.1%), Denmark (up 20.3%), Belgium (up 18.5%), United States (up 17.8%) then Malta (up 17.2%).

Registering the severest double-digit declines in their annual purchases of imported potato chips were: Ireland (down -30.5%), Saudi Arabia (down -30.1%), Qatar (down -29.9%), Kuwait (down -16.6%), Bahrain (down -11.6%) and Australia (down -10.6%).

US Demand for Imported Potato Chips

In 2021, the United States of America retained its ranking as the world’s biggest market for imported potato chips sales. US demand for imported potato chips was worth $277.8 million in US dollars.

America’s 5 biggest potato chips suppliers (Canada, Mexico, China, Honduras, Spain) furnished over nine-tenths (92.1%) of total US purchases of potato chips from international markets.

The following 15 countries benefited the most from selling imported potato chips to customers in the United States during 2021.

Canada: US$134.8 million (48.5% of US total)
Mexico: $110.1 million (39.7%)
Spain: $4.8 million (1.7%)
Ireland: $3.3 million (1.2%)
China: $2.8 million (1%)
Honduras: $2.4 million (0.9%)
Japan: $2.05 million (0.7%)
United Kingdom: $1.59 million (0.6%)
Hong Kong: $1.55 million (0.6%)
Taiwan: $1.48 million (0.5%)
South Korea: $1.25 million (0.4%)
India: $1.23 million (0.4%)
Egypt: $1.22 million (0.4%)
Germany: $1.05 million (0.4%)
Peru: $969,000 (0.3%)

The above 15 international providers sold 97.4% of the $277.8 million worth of imported potato chips delivered to the United States during 2021.

Year over year, the fastest-growing top suppliers of potato chips to American buyers from 2020 to 2021 were Egypt (up 411.7%), Japan (up 124.2%), Spain (up 124.1%), Ireland (up 82.6%), South Korea (up 49.7%) and India (up 37.8%).

Unit Costs by Major US Potato Chips Suppliers

The United States of America spent an average US$3,932 per ton of potato chip imports during 2021. That dollar metric is more expensive than the average $3,119 per ton for buyers in all importing countries.

American importers paid a wide range of unit costs per ton, depending on the potato chips shipper’s country of origin.

Below, you will find the average unit price that American importers paid to 15 of the top suppliers of potato chips to the US in 2021. They are presented in descending order starting with the nations that supplied the highest total dollar value worth of potato chips that the US bought on international markets.

Canada: US$3,778 per ton (up 7.1% from 2020)
Mexico: $4,185 (up 6.2%)
Spain: $4,425 (down -15.1%)
Ireland: $11,637 (up 14.4%)
China: $992 (up 18.7%)
Honduras: $7,457 (up 8.3%)
Japan: $5,473 (down -58.6%)
United Kingdom: $8,266 (up 2.2%)
Hong Kong: $6,609 (down -10.3%)
Taiwan: $10,243 (down -10.3%)
South Korea: $9,191 (up 4.6%)
India: $3,829 (up 14.6%)
Egypt: $1,200 (down -66.9%)
Germany: $4,646 (down -19.5%)
Peru: $6,094 (up 8.1%)

The lowest unit costs per ton of potato chips imported into the United States belongs to suppliers in mainland China ($992), Belgium ($1,000), Albania (also $1,000), Egypt ($1,200), Jamaica ($1,405) and Ghana ($1,500).

America pays the highest unit price per ton of potato chips to exporters in Singapore ($24,500), New Zealand ($14,667), South Africa ($13,250), Thailand ($12,147), Costa Rica ($12,000) and Ireland ($11,637).

World’s Biggest Potato Chips Brands

Below, you will find the world’s strongest brands for potato chips. Shown within brackets is the global manufacturer plus the global head office location for each potato chips manufacturer.

Lay’s (Frito-Lay: Plano, USA)
Ruffles (Frito-Lay: Plano, USA)
Pringles (Kellogg’s: Battle Creek, USA)
Utz (Utz Potato Chip Company: Hanover, USA)
Kettle (Kettle Foods: Salem, USA)
Cape Cod Potato Chips (Snyder’s-Lance: Charlotte, USA)
Herr’s (Herr Foods Inc: Nottingham, USA)
Wise (Arca Continental: Monterrey, Mexico)
Popchips (Velocity Snack Brands: Los Angeles, USA)
Golden Flake (Golden Flake Snack Foods: Birmingham, USA)

Nine among the above gigantic potato chips manufacturers have their head office addresses in the United States of America. The only exception is Mexico-based Arca Continental which makes Wise potato chips.

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational portals.

BoyceWire, Consumer Goods Definition.

Eat By Date, How Long Do Potato Chips Last?.

Forbes, The Forbes Global 2000 List.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Investopedia, Consumer Goods, Consumer Staples Definition, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).

Just Fun Facts, Interesting facts about potato chips.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Richest Countries by GDP per Capita.

Thrill List, Potato Chips Are the Healthiest ‘Unhealthy’ Snack.

United States Census Bureau, Foreign Trade State Data.

USITC DataWeb, US Merchandise Trade: Imports for Consumption.

Value Today, World Top Potato Chips Companies List by Market Cap.

Wikipedia, Potato chip.