ANALYTICAL STUDY OF EGYPTIAN POTATO EXPORTS, THE MOST IMPORTANT MARKETS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

European Union countries are considered most important markets for imported Egyptian potatoes, and despite of that, the quantity of Egyptian exports from this crop is not appropriate with the export potential of Egypt. The study aims to identify the current status of Egyptian potatoes exports to the European Union, a study of the competitive situation of Egyptian potatoes in the most important markets within the European Union and finally, estimate the demand function of Egyptian potatoes in the most important EU markets. The study concluded that Italy and Greece are the most important EU markets importing Egyptian potatoes. This amount was about 64.3%, 66.8% of the average total quantity and value of Egyptian exports of potatoes to the European Union during the period (2000-2014) respectively, and their imports increased annually at different rates during the period (1995–2014). The market share of Egyptian potatoes within the EU market is very small with the exception of the Greece market and the Italian market.   Based on such results, the study recommends the following   Focus on increasing exports of Egyptian potatoes to countries with a high volume of imports of potatoes such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and France. To review the prices of potatoes exports to Italy and the most suitable periods of increasing its quantity to this market, taking care that this does not put the Egyptian potatoes in a price competition with French and German potatoes. Continuation and further work on improving the quality of potatoes, in addition to the expansion in the cultivation of potatoes in the brown rot-free, so as to benefit from competitive advantages in the markets of the EU, especially Italian and Greece markets, making it possible to sustain Egypt's share in both markets, and take advantage from the price competition in the Greece market. Necessity follows flexible price policies for the Egyptian potatoes exports to Greece, which could increase its exports to this market and take advantage of price competition in this market. Necessity continue studying the ratio between export prices of Egyptian potatoes to the markets of the EU, and the export price for countries competing in these markets in general, and each of the Italian and Greece market in particular. So as to achieve the continuity and stability of this ratio, or at least achieve the stability of the quantities exported of Egyptian potatoes to both markets at the same time. Studying the prices of potatoes and seed special analytical study as Shafik in a study. Abolition of government intervention and control of prices, as Wali pointed out in the study of the abolition of control of prices and reduce supply. Abdul Rahim also mentioned in this study the effects of the liberalization of the prices of agricultural inputs and outputs on crop composition. Find alternatives to price policies for the development of Egyptian potatoes as a strong competitor in the European market with a competitive advantage price, as indicated by Azza in the study of alternatives to agricultural price policy and the effects of the Egyptian economic. Put the potatoes in the composition of a crop compatible with contemporary economic variables as explained Abdel-Maksoud