Chip Happens: India’s Frozen Fries Heat Up the Export Charts

Image Source: News18

India has been growing steadily as a global french fry giant, with frozen fry exports reaching new records and the state of Gujarat being the hub of this crispy phenomenon. From being a cotton belt drought-stricken state, the farmers in Gujarat have turned to potatoes—and the world is devouring it.

Highlights of the spud surge

- India exported over 181,000 tonnes of frozen fries in February 2025, up 45 percent from the same period last year
- The month's exports exceeded 20,000 tonnes for the first time, and the top three markets in Asia were Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia
- Gujarat leads the way, with big processing plants of McCain Foods and HyFun Foods, India's biggest fry manufacturer.

The seeds of success

1. Cotton growers like Jitesh Patel switched to potato cultivation in the early 2000s and employed drip irrigation and scientific cultivation methods
2. Companies like Jain Irrigation Systems are raising disease-free potato seed using tissue culture to enhance yield and quality
3. Urbanization and rising incomes have spurred demand for frozen foods, and fries are now a restaurant and home fixture.

Challenges ahead

- India has a mere 10–15 percent of its cold storage sufficiently stocked with frozen products

- Inadequate refrigerated vehicles and unreliable infrastructure compromise supply chain reliability

Why it matters

India's potato tale is more than a snack—innovation, persistence, and farm reinvention. With prudent investment, the nation could soon lead the world in frozen food exports.

Sources: MSN, Yahoo News, News18, Indian Potato, BBC, Economic Times