The year 2021 has seen the highest annual export levels ever recorded in the U.S. agricultural industry, announced Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture.
The Commerce Department released final trade data and they show that exports of U.S. agricultural and food products world totaled $177 billion, exceeding 2020 data by 18%.
“These record trade figures demonstrate that U.S. agriculture is incredibly resilient as it continues to provide high-quality, cost-competitive farm and food products to customers around the world, and that the Biden-Harris Administration’s agenda is working for American farmers and producers,” Vilsack said. “This is a great boost for the economy as a whole, and particularly for our rural communities, as agricultural exports stimulate local economic activity, help maintain our competitive edge globally, support producers’ bottom lines and support more than 1.3 million jobs on farms and in related industries such as food processing and transportation.”
All top 10 U.S. export markets posted gains in 2021, with China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Colombia setting new records. Global exports of many U.S. products, including corn, soybeans, beef, pork, dairy, distillers grains, and pet food, also reached record highs. China remained the top export destination, with a record $33 billion in purchases, up 25% from 2020, while Mexico moved ahead of Canada to take second place, with a record $25.5 billion, up 39% from last year.
“It’s clear that our international trading partners are responding favorably to the U.S. turnaround,” Vilsack said. “We owe thanks to U.S. agricultural producers, who always strive to be reliable global suppliers, and the Biden-Harris Administration and USDA are fighting hard on their behalf to keep our homegrown products moving around the world. We are strengthening relationships with our trading partners and holding them accountable for their commitments. We are addressing transportation and infrastructure challenges through the work of the Administration’s Supply Chain Task Force and denouncing ocean carriers that are putting profits above their responsibility to serve both importers and exporters. And we are expanding opportunities for agricultural exports by removing trade barriers and partnering with industry on marketing and promotional efforts around the world.”
For a detailed summary of 2021 U.S. agricultural exports by market, view the 2021 U.S. agricultural exports by market summary.
For a detailed summary of 2021 U.S. agricultural exports by product, view the 2021 U.S. agricultural exports by product summary.