The American agricultural sector posted its best export year ever in 2022, with international sales of U.S. farm and food products reaching $196 billion, says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
The numbers speak for themselves: Final 2022 trade data released earlier this week by the U.S. Commerce Department shows that U.S. agricultural exports increased 11%, or $19.5 billion, from the previous record set in 2021.
“This second consecutive year of record-setting agricultural exports, coupled with a record $160.5 billion in net farm income in 2022, demonstrates the success of the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to create new and better markets for America’s agricultural producers and businesses,” Vilsack said in a statement.
The record-breaking sales numbers are a result of multiyear USDA investments and support along with fostering long-term partnerships that are beginning to show big returns.
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“We’re strengthening relationships with our trading partners and holding those partners accountable for their commitments. We’re making historic investments in infrastructure to strengthen supply chains and prevent market disruptions. We’re knocking down trade barriers that hamper U.S. producers’ access to key markets. And we’re continuing to invest in export market development programs, partnering with industry to bring high-quality, cost-competitive U.S. products to consumers around the world,” Vilsack continued.
The value of sales increased in all the U.S.’ top 10 agricultural export markets, according to a news release:
- China.
- Mexico.
- Canada.
- Japan.
- European Union.
- South Korea.
- Taiwan.
- Philippines.
- Colombia.
- Vietnam.
What’s more, sales in seven of the export markets — China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Colombia — set records.
“While we remain committed to our established customer base around the world, we are also setting our sights on new growth opportunities in places like Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Overall, there were 30 markets where U.S. exports exceeded $1 billion in 2022 — an increase from 27 markets in 2021 — demonstrating the broad global appeal of American-grown products,” Vilsack said.
The top commodities exported by the U.S. in 2022 were soybeans, corn, beef, dairy, cotton and tree nuts, which together made up more than half of U.S. agricultural export value. International sales of many U.S. products — including soybeans, cotton, dairy, beef, ethanol, poultry, soybean meal, distilled spirits and distillers’ grains — reached record values.
“At the end of the day, agricultural trade is all about opportunities — for America’s farmers and ranchers, for our rural communities, for the U.S. economy and for our global customers. We extend our gratitude to the Americans across the agricultural industry who create and support those opportunities by growing, processing, selling and shipping our farm and food products to the world,” Vilsack said.
