LinkedIn Friday Quiz

China

According to the latest data (2021) global production of potatoes was 376 million metric tons annually. China produces 25% of the world’s supply of potatoes while India produces about 14%, the US around 5% and Russia around about 5%. Under normal conditions, Ukraine is also a meaningful producer of potatoes at around 6%. Domestically, the most significant contributor to potato production in the US is Idaho.

There are more than 200 varieties of potato offered in the US retail market—russet is the most popular despite high levels of starch and numerous eyes. The majority of potatoes in the US are utilized for processing (270 million) in goods such as French fries, chips, or instant-potato products, versus fresh use (94 million). Per capita use of potatoes has in fact declined over the years, from 47 pounds per person in 2000 to 30 pounds, perhaps as Americans have become more health conscious.

Domestic consumption of sweet potatoes, conversely, has increased from 4.2 to 6.2 pounds over the comparable time period. Globally, sweet potatoes are the sixth most important crop globally but of higher importance in developing countries, where 95% of the production occurs.

By the way, the first recorded use of the potato dates back to Peru between 8000 and 5000 BCE. It is believed that the potato arrived in Europe through two ports of entry—Spain in the late 16th century and Britain shortly thereafter. By the 18th century, the potato had replaced the turnip and rutabaga as a common foodstuff.

Shanghai, China

More than half of the 15 busiest ports in the world are in China. Shanghai has been the world’s busiest port since 2010, spanning four square kilometers in area and handling around 43.5 million TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) of container volume annually—about a quarter of China’s annual trade. Singapore is the second-largest global port at 37.2 million TEUs—it was the world’s busiest port from 2005 to 2010 until it was surpassed by Shanghai. Connected to more than 600 ports across 123 countries, Singapore is a primarily a transit port—nearly 80% of the transactions carried out there are transfers to other locations. The Port of Ningbo-Zhoushan, on the coast of the East China Sea, is the third largest in the world. Shenzhen, the third-largest port in China and the world’s fourth-busiest port (31.1 million container TEUs), is actually an agglomeration of smaller ports including those in Yantian, Chiwan, Dachan Bay, and Shekou. The city of Shenzhen is an important manufacturing and industrial hub enabled by proximity to the port, and is also known as China’s Silicon Valley, being home to companies like Tencent, Huawei, and BYD. Finally, while Laredo, Texas, is not among the world’s busiest ports, it is the third-biggest port in the US (after Los Angeles, and the Port of New York and New Jersey). While 90% of global trade relies on ocean freight, Laredo serves as the largest inland port between the US and Mexico. Nearly 5.5 million trucks pass through the Port of Laredo annually.