2019 Export Overview
Top U.S. Agricultural Exports*(values in million USD) |
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| Country | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | % Change 2018-2019 |
5-Year Average 2015-2019 |
| Soybeans | 18,862 | 22,839 | 21,456 | 17,063 | 18,660 | 9% | 19,776 |
| Tree Nuts | 8,441 | 7,902 | 8,479 | 8,514 | 9,075 | 7% | 8,482 |
| Beef & Beef Products | 6,311 | 6,360 | 7,263 | 8,360 | 8,090 | -3% | 7,277 |
| Corn | 8,271 | 9,879 | 9,112 | 12,467 | 7,617 | -39% | 9,469 |
| Pork & Pork Products | 5,567 | 5,936 | 6,485 | 6,403 | 6,952 | 9% | 6,269 |
| Prepared Food | 5,849 | 6,118 | 5,938 | 6,245 | 6,682 | 7% | 6,166 |
| Wheat | 5,628 | 5,346 | 6,058 | 5,389 | 6,214 | 15% | 5,727 |
| Cotton | 3,902 | 3,967 | 5,845 | 6,557 | 6,153 | -6% | 5,285 |
| Dairy Products | 5,240 | 4,698 | 5,377 | 5,498 | 5,931 | 8% | 5,349 |
| Soybean Meal | 4,781 | 4,073 | 3,881 | 5,079 | 4,405 | -13% | 4,444 |
| Fresh Fruit | 4,565 | 4,564 | 4,749 | 4,673 | 4,387 | -6% | 4,587 |
| Poultry Meat & Products | 4,043 | 3,879 | 4,267 | 4,272 | 4,245 | -1% | 4,141 |
| Snack Foods | 2,687 | 2,642 | 2,634 | 2,708 | 2,703 | 0% | 2,675 |
| Processed Vegetables | 2,687 | 2,695 | 2,690 | 2,613 | 2,700 | 3% | 2,677 |
| Fresh Vegetables | 2,395 | 2,446 | 2,513 | 2,577 | 2,670 | 4% | 2,520 |
| All Others | 43,829 | 41,332 | 41,413 | 41,178 | 40,175 | -2% | 41,586 |
| Total Exported | 133,057 | 134,678 | 138,160 | 139,597 | 136,658 | -2% | 136,430 |
*Ethanol is not counted as an agricultural good in the USDA definition of agriculture
Overview
Total U.S. agricultural exports in 2019 were nearly $137 billion, down 2.1 percent from 2018. Major factors affecting U.S. exports were the on-going trade dispute with China and a dramatic drop in corn exports.
Soybeans continued to be the number one agricultural export, increasing 9.4 percent to $18.7 billion in 2019. Increased exports to China offset declining exports to other major markets. China bought nearly $5 billion in additional soybeans over what they imported the year before while other major purchasers such as EU, Egypt, Indonesia, and Taiwan were down 37%, 14%, 14%, and 21% respectively.
Tree nut exports to the world surged 6.6 percent reaching a record $9 billion in 2019. Increased exports to EU-28, India, China and UAE offset decreased shipments to Hong Kong, Japan and Mexico. Almonds accounted for 54 percent of tree nut exports followed by pistachios (22%) and walnuts (14%).
Corn was the leading contributor to the two percent decline in total agricultural exports. Exports of U.S. corn were down nearly $5 billion from 2018, a 39 percent decrease and at its lowest level since 2013. The competitiveness of U.S. corn was impacted by planting delays and reduced yields while major export competitors Argentina, Brazil and Ukraine had record production.
Exports of consumer-oriented goods such as meats, horticulture, processed foods and dairy were responsible for nearly half of all U.S. agriculture exports while exports of bulk goods such as soybean, corn and wheat contributed an all-time low 32 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports.
Outlook
2020 is an extremely difficult year to forecast in terms of agricultural trade. An outbreak of COVID-19 has dampened demand for many agricultural goods as citizens around the world have stopped going to work, eating out or taking vacations. On the other hand, as part of the U.S.– China Phase One Trade Agreement, China has committed to remove a number of trade barriers and agreed to increase purchases of U.S. products. If implemented, these will boost U.S. exports this year. The United States expects an increase in exports from recently signed and upgraded trade agreements with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Korea. The U.S. has also begun discussions about entering into negotiations with other trading partners such as the European Union, Brazil, Ecuador and Kenya.