U.S. agriculture posted its greatest export yr ever in 2022 with worldwide gross sales of U.S. farm and meals merchandise reaching $196 billion, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack introduced Friday. Last 2022 commerce information launched by the Commerce Division confirmed that U.S. agricultural exports elevated 11%, or $19.5 billion, from the earlier report set in 2021.
“This second consecutive yr of record-setting agricultural exports, coupled with a report $160.5 billion in web farm earnings in 2022, demonstrates the success of the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to create new and higher markets for America’s agricultural producers and companies,” Vilsack mentioned. “We’re strengthening relationships with our buying and selling companions and holding these companions accountable for his or her commitments. We’re making historic investments in infrastructure to strengthen provide chains and stop market disruptions. We’re pulling down commerce limitations that hamper U.S. producers’ entry to key markets. And we’re persevering with to spend money on export market improvement applications, partnering with trade to convey high-quality, cost-competitive U.S. merchandise to shoppers world wide.”
Regardless of the 11% enhance in worth from 2021, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) mentioned the newest set of numbers didn’t maintain all excellent news for America’s farmers and ranchers as total export quantity decreased by 6%. Moreover, imports of agricultural items elevated by $28 billion, making a commerce deficit for 2022.
“It’s encouraging to see the worth of America’s agriculture exports enhance, however America’s farmers and ranchers nonetheless face challenges from the climate and competitors from different international locations,” mentioned AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “The 2022 agricultural commerce deficit demonstrates that there’s extra to be completed by the administration. The enforcement of present commerce agreements and pursuit of recent buying and selling companions will allow America’s farmers to fulfill the rising wants of households right here at residence and overseas.”
Nonetheless, the worth of gross sales elevated in all the United States’ high 10 agricultural export markets – China, Mexico, Canada, Japan, the European Union, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Colombia and Vietnam, with gross sales in seven of the ten markets (China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Colombia) setting new information.
“Whereas we stay dedicated to our established buyer base world wide, we’re additionally setting our sights on new development alternatives in locations like Africa, Latin America, the Center East and Southeast Asia. General, there have been 30 markets the place U.S. exports exceeded $1 billion in 2022 – a rise from 27 markets in 2021 – demonstrating the broad world enchantment of American-grown merchandise,” Vilsack famous.
The highest commodities exported by the US in 2022 had been soybeans, corn, beef, dairy, cotton and tree nuts, which collectively comprised greater than half of U.S. agricultural export worth. Worldwide gross sales of many U.S. merchandise – together with soybeans, cotton, dairy, beef, ethanol, poultry, soybean meal, distilled spirits and distillers’ grains – reached report values.
