Current UCUI
68/100
Moderate-High Uncertainty
+4 points from prior reading
Potato Market Intelligence
Frozen Fries Import Unit Value
Frozen fries import unit value measures average customs-reported value per unit weight for a defined destination and product classification. MassGain separates product and origin mix from freight, tariffs, currency, and like-for-like supplier movement so buyers can compare imported and domestic supply on a matched basis.
Market Data
How to read this market
Frozen-fries import-unit-value data divides customs-reported import value by quantity for a defined destination, product classification, and period. The market object is an average landed or customs-value signal that can blend origins, cuts, coatings, package formats, freight, tariffs, currency, and contract structures.
Use the data to compare import-cost direction and source mix while controlling for product specification and customs basis. Link changes with origin factory prices, freight, duties, exchange rates, domestic capacity, and demand before treating the average as the buyer's replacement cost.
Data Module
Frozen Fries Import Unit Value
Market objectcustoms-derived average import value
Primary measureimport value per unit weight
Key dimensionsdestination, origin, code, period
Commercial useimport-cost trend analysis
Interpretationprice, mix, freight, currency
Compare withdomestic and matched supplier offers
Analysis
Why this matters
A falling import unit value can result from a shift toward standard low-cost products while the buyer's approved coated fry becomes more expensive. Basket averages therefore can move opposite to specification-specific procurement cost.
Commercial interpretation should isolate origin and product mix and normalize the customs basis. Only matched imported supply provides a valid comparison with domestic supplier pricing.
Signal 01
Usable Crop Uncertainty Index
UCUI translates crop and market complexity into a simple uncertainty signal. Higher readings indicate greater uncertainty—not necessarily higher prices.
Understand uncertainty. Anticipate risk. Act earlier.
UCUI is designed to analyze potato-industry publications and data signals across regions, varieties, weather, disease, storage, supply, and demand.
WeatherHigh
DiseaseHigh
StorageMedium
SupplyMedium
Single-day snapshot based on a scan of 11,500+ web and social signals. Get historical and real-time data by clicking the button below.
The MassGain Daily
Today’s market analysis.
A daily editorial synthesis of physical potato data, crop signals, market reporting, and what participants should watch next.
September 16, 2026Latest MassGain publication
Potato market steady for now; Russia’s smaller crop is the salient risk
Spot prices are flat and USDA terminal reports read ‘market steady,’ but a renewed forecast for a smaller Russian harvest and recent regional harvest stress leave seasonal import timing and storage losses as the key uncertainty.
Signal 02
MassGain Potato Index
Independent physical-pricing intelligence and market-trend analysis for procurement, forecasting, contracting, and scenario planning.
Core Russet Carton Median
312.45 USD/MT
Latest qualifying physical-market observation
+4.75 (+1.55%)
Price discovery for the physical potato market
MPI is designed to track physical pricing data, price trends, deltas, and divergences across regions and potato types.
Series window45 days
Current public coverageCore russet cartons
Primary source basisQualifying USDA physical rows
UnitUSD per metric tonne
Single-day snapshot based on most recent 45 days worth of data. Limited to US Russets only. Get more complete, global data about all varieties by clicking the button below.
Signal 03
MassGain Spot Reference
An independent spot reference designed for price discovery, contract discussions, procurement comparisons, and risk modeling.
Russet Burbank — U.S. Midsize
305 USD/MT
Demonstration reference format
+1.6% WoW · Confidence: High
A trusted benchmark for pricing, contracts, and risk
MSR is intended to use real transactions and verifiable physical-market data to support negotiations, price checks, contracting, and risk models.
ProductRusset Burbank
SpecificationU.S. midsize, 40–70 count
Reference typePhysical spot benchmark
StatusIn development
Based on most recent 45 days worth of data. Limited to US Russets only. Get more complete, global data about all varities by clicking the button below. Full access also includes historical data -- including depreciated NYMEX/CBOE/EEX spot references -- projections, trends, and AI-driven insights.
The MassGain Product Ladder
From insight to intelligence to action
Four integrated products built for the physical potato market, delivered through public pages, reports, exports, dashboards, and API access.
1
Content
Original research, commentary, aggregated news, and market updates.
- What matters right now?
- What is happening out there?
2
UCUI™
Usable Crop Uncertainty Index: an AI-powered signal of crop risk and market uncertainty.
- Understand uncertainty
- Anticipate risk
- Act earlier
3
MPI™
MassGain Potato Index: independent physical-pricing intelligence and trend analysis.
- Price discovery
- Regional trends
- Procurement planning
4
MSR™
MassGain Spot Reference: an independent benchmark for price discovery and risk modeling.
- Contracts
- Negotiations
- Risk models
Content + UCUI + MPI + MSR + API access
Get historical series, regional detail, constituent data, exports, alerts, and direct data access.
Overview
Who is this for?
This page is for frozen-potato processors, restaurant procurement teams, distributors, and market analysts that need to interpret frozen fries import unit value. The measure divides reported import value by imported quantity for a defined destination and period. It can indicate landed-price direction, but the average may blend standard fries, premium cuts, coated products, private label, varying package sizes, and different customs valuation bases.
MassGain organizes import unit values by destination, origin, customs classification, month, currency, and weight. It connects changes with origin prices, ocean and inland freight, tariffs, exchange rates, product mix, processor capacity, and domestic demand. Procurement can determine whether imported alternatives are becoming more or less competitive. Processors can assess pressure from foreign finished product. Finance can separate currency and logistics from underlying product movement. Analysts can compare origins while controlling for route and specification.
MassGain does not present customs unit value as a directly purchasable delivered price. Timing, duties, related-party values, and product composition can distort the result. It provides a transparent, source-aware benchmark that distinguishes volume, mix, origin, and cost components and helps users compare import economics with domestic supply on a matched basis.
Use Case
A restaurant group sees average fry import unit value decline and expects supplier relief. MassGain shows the decline comes from a larger share of low-cost standard fries, while the chain’s coated product from its approved origin rose after freight and currency changes. Procurement retains the specification-specific benchmark.
FAQs
How is frozen fries import unit value calculated?
Divide reported import value by imported quantity for a consistent product scope, destination, and period.
What can distort import unit value?
Product mix, origin mix, freight, tariffs, currency, customs valuation, and shipment timing can distort it.
How does MassGain compare domestic and imported supply?
It normalizes specification, terms, currency, freight, duty, timing, and usable product economics.
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Data and Methodology
Professional market-data standards
MassGain is building transparent public market infrastructure. Each live metric will identify its date, unit, coverage, methodology, and source basis.
Data provenance
MassGain uses public, licensed, contributed, and independently derived physical-market information. Source availability and publication schedules vary.
Timing and revisions
Figures may reflect the latest available observation rather than a same-day transaction. Source data and MassGain calculations may be corrected, restated, or revised.
Not transactional pricing
MassGain figures are informational reference values and do not constitute executable bids, offers, settlements, or guarantees that a transaction can occur at the displayed value.
No individualized advice
Content and data are provided for informational and analytical purposes and do not constitute financial, investment, legal, trading, or individualized procurement advice.
Independent publication
Certain observations may be derived from USDA reports. MassGain is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USDA.
Commercial use and licensing
Public display does not grant rights to reproduce, redistribute, republish, or incorporate MassGain indices or references into commercial products or contracts without authorization.