Belgium is largest exporter of frozen potatoes

Last year in Belgium a record volume of 3.8 million tonnes of potatoes were processed in Belgium, mainly to frozen chips, making Belgium the largest exporter of frozen potato products in the world, reports De Standaard.

The 3.8 million tonnes of potatoes last year were processed into nearly 1.4 million tonnes of frozen chips, and 455,000 tonnes of other products, such as puree, croquettes, flakes and crisps. According to trade association Belgapom, the figures show an increase of 6.9% compared to 2013.

Belgapom sees a bright future for the potato sector in Belgium, and says it is ready to tap into new markets, particularly in Asia. The industry is also working to strengthen the international image of the Belgian potato, and encourage English-speaking countries to refer to chips as 'Belgian fries'.