U.S. fresh exports of fruit down, vegetables up in 2019
Exports of U.S. fresh fruits declined by 6% in 2019, while exports of U.S. fresh vegetables increased by 4%.
Retaliatory tariffs still weighed on U.S. fruit exports to China in 2019. Trade statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture showed nearly all major categories of fruit exports declined in 2019.
By dollar sales, the USDA reported 2019 export sales, compared with 2018:
- All fresh fruits: $4.64 billion, down 6%;
- Fresh apples: $955.8 million, down 5%;
- Fresh grapes: $728.1 million, down 7%;
- Fresh berries: $696.4 million, down 2%;
- Fresh oranges and tangerines: $599.6 million, down 13%;
- Fresh cherries: $494.1 million, down 5%;
- Fresh pears: $164 million, up %6;
- Fresh melons: $135.6 million, down 14%;
- Fresh peaches: $128 million, down 2%;
- Fresh grapefruit: $70 million, up 7%;
- Fresh plums: $49.9 million, down 15%; and
- Other citrus: $22.4 million, up 8%.
Led by gains in lettuce, celery, onions and potatoes, U.S. fresh vegetable exports topped $2.6 billion in 2019, up 4%. By dollar sales, with comparisons to 2018, 2019 export sales of fresh vegetables were:
- All fresh vegetables: $2.68 billion, up 4%;
- Other vegetables”: $727.4 million, down 1%;
- Fresh lettuce: $519 million, up 5%;
- Fresh potatoes: $254 million, up 8%;
- Fresh onions: $254.1 million, up 8%;
- Fresh cauliflower: $152.8 million, down 7%;
- Fresh celery; $116 million, up 38%;
- Fresh tomatoes: $111.6 million, 1%;
- Fresh carrots: 108.1 million, down 5%;
- Fresh broccoli: $95.9 million, down 8%;
- Fresh cabbage: $84.8 million, up 9%;
- Fresh peppers: $80.4 million, up 2%;
- Fresh asparagus: $80.1 million, down 3%;
- Fresh sweet corn: $44.4 million, down 11%;
- Fresh mushrooms: $36 million, down 5%;
- Fresh cucumbers: $17.9 million, up 33%; and
- Fresh garlic: $13.6 million, up 1%.
By destination, USDA trade statistics showed these trends for fresh fruit exports in 2019 compared with 2018:
- Canada: $1.465 billion, down 3%;
- Mexico: $610 million, down 1%;
- South Korea: $405 million, down 17%;
- Japan: $323 million, down 2%;
- Taiwan: $255 million, up 28%;
- Hong Kong: $195 million, down 18%;
- Vietnam: $138 million, up 36%; and
- China: $118.5 million, down 33%.
- Australia: $98 million, down 6%; and
- India: $63 million, down 63%.
Leading global markets for U.S. fresh vegetables in 2019:
- Canada: $1.986 billion, up 5%;
- Mexico: $197 million, up 37%;
- Japan: $78 million, down 28%;
- Taiwan: $71 million, down 11%;
- Netherlands: $60 million, down 10%;
- Hong Kong: $10 million, down 4%; and
- Philippines: $9.82 million, up 59%.
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