7 Biggest Agricultural Exporters in the World

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the global economy, providing food, feed, fiber, and fuel for billions of people. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s agricultural exports amounted to $1.8 trillion in 2020, an increase of 3.5% from 2019. But which countries are the biggest exporters of agricultural products? Here is a list of the top seven, based on data from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other sources.

1. United States

The United States is the largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, accounting for more than 10% of total global exports in 2020. The country exported $147.9 billion worth of agricultural goods, mainly corn, soybeans, wheat, meat, dairy, fruits, and nuts. The United States is also the largest producer of corn and soybeans, and among the top producers of wheat, oats, tomatoes, spices, and many other crops. The main destinations for U.S. agricultural exports are China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the European Union.

2. Netherlands

The Netherlands is the second-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, despite being a small country with limited land area. The country exported $103.4 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2020, mainly flowers, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, meat, and processed foods. The Netherlands is also a major hub for re-exporting agricultural products from other countries, especially within Europe. The main destinations for Dutch agricultural exports are Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

3. Brazil

Brazil is the third-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, and a leading producer of several commodities. The country exported $85 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2020, mainly soybeans, sugar cane, coffee, beef, poultry, corn, and fruits. Brazil is also the largest producer of sugar cane and coffee, and among the top producers of soybeans, corn, oranges, bananas, and cocoa. The main destinations for Brazilian agricultural exports are China, the European Union, the United States, India, and Japan.

4. China

China is the fourth-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, and also the largest producer and consumer of many crops. The country exported $79.5 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2020, mainly fruits, vegetables, rice, tea, fishery products, and processed foods. China is also the largest producer of rice, wheat, potatoes, cabbage, garlic, apples, pears, grapes, and many other crops. The main destinations for Chinese agricultural exports are Japan, the United States, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and South Korea.

5. Germany

Germany is the fifth-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, and a major player in the European market. The country exported $67 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2020, mainly dairy products, meat, wheat, barley, sugar beet, and processed foods. Germany is also a major producer of wheat, barley, sugar beet, potatoes, rapeseed, and hops. The main destinations for German agricultural exports are France, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland.

6. France

France is the sixth-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, and a leader in quality and diversity. The country exported $65 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2020, mainly wine, cheese, wheat, corn, meat, dairy products, and processed foods. France is also a major producer of wine, cheese, wheat, corn, sugar beet, rapeseed, and fruits. The main destinations for French agricultural exports are Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the United States.

7. Canada

Canada is the seventh-largest exporter of agricultural products in the world, and a key supplier of grains and oilseeds. The country exported $56 billion worth of agricultural goods in 2020, mainly canola seed and oil, wheat, lentils, soybeans, pork, beef, and fishery products. Canada is also a major producer of canola seed and oil, wheat, lentils, soybeans, barley, oats, and maple syrup. The main destinations for Canadian agricultural exports are China, the United States, Japan, Mexico, and Indonesia.

The Global Trends of Agricultural Exports

Agricultural exports are an important source of income and food security for many countries around the world. They also reflect the competitiveness and comparative advantage of different regions in producing and trading agricultural products. In this blog post, we will look at some of the latest statistics and trends of agricultural exports, focusing on the top exporters, the main products, and the changes in global demand.

The Top Exporters of Agricultural Products

According to Statista, the leading country by value of agricultural products exported in 2020 was the United States, with 147.9 billion U.S. dollars. The U.S. is the largest producer and exporter of corn, soybeans, wheat, and cotton, among other crops. The U.S. also has a strong position in animal products, such as beef, pork, poultry, and dairy.

The second-largest exporter of agricultural products was the Netherlands, with 85 billion U.S. dollars. The Netherlands is a major European hub for trade and logistics, as well as a leader in horticulture and floriculture. The Netherlands exports a large variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers, seeds, and processed foods to many countries.

The third-largest exporter of agricultural products was Brazil, with 85 billion U.S. dollars. Brazil is a powerhouse of tropical agriculture, with abundant land and water resources. Brazil is the top producer and exporter of sugar cane, coffee, orange juice, soybeans, and beef. Brazil also exports significant amounts of corn, poultry, pork, fruits, and ethanol.

Other countries that ranked among the top 10 exporters of agricultural products in 2020 were China (79.5 billion U.S. dollars), Germany (67 billion U.S. dollars), Canada (56 billion U.S. dollars), France (54 billion U.S. dollars), India (38 billion U.S. dollars), Spain (37 billion U.S. dollars), and Italy (36 billion U.S. dollars).

The Main Products of Agricultural Exports

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the main categories of agricultural products exported in 2019 were cereals (18% of total value), oilseeds (14%), meat (13%), dairy products (10%), fruits and vegetables (10%), sugar and confectionery (6%), beverages (6%), fish and seafood (5%), spices (4%), and animal feed (4%).

Within these categories, some of the most traded products in terms of value were soybeans (8% of total value), wheat (7%), maize (6%), rice (5%), palm oil (4%), beef (4%), milk and cream (4%), wine (3%), bananas (3%), and cheese (3%).

Some of the products that showed the highest growth rates in export value between 2018 and 2019 were rapeseed oil (29%), sunflower oil (28%), barley (25%), sorghum (24%), oats (23%), sesame seeds (22%), quinoa (21%), millet (20%), fonio (19%), and canary seeds (18%).

The Changes in Global Demand for Agricultural Products

The global demand for agricultural products is influenced by various factors, such as population growth, income levels, dietary preferences, climate change, trade policies, and market shocks. According to the FAO, the global demand for agricultural products is expected to increase by 15% between 2019 and 2030, driven mainly by population growth in Africa and Asia.

However, the demand growth will vary across different regions and products. For example, the demand for cereals is projected to grow by 13%, while the demand for meat is projected to grow by 14%, dairy products by 17%, oilseeds by 25%, fruits and vegetables by 21%, sugar and confectionery by 15%, beverages by 19%, fish and seafood by 18%, spices by 16%, and animal feed by 12%.

The demand growth will also depend on the income levels and dietary preferences of consumers. For example, higher-income countries tend to consume more animal products, fruits and vegetables, sugar and confectionery, beverages, fish and seafood, and spices than lower-income countries. On the other hand, lower-income countries tend to consume more cereals, oilseeds, pulses, roots and tubers than higher-income countries.

Moreover, the demand growth will be affected by climate change and trade policies. For example, climate change may reduce the availability and quality of water and land resources for agriculture production in some regions while increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts floods heat waves pests diseases etc Trade policies may create opportunities or barriers for trade flows depending on tariffs quotas subsidies standards etc.

Agricultural exports are a vital component of the global food system, providing income and food security for many countries and regions. The trends and patterns of agricultural exports reflect the diversity and dynamism of the global agricultural sector, as well as the challenges and opportunities that it faces. Understanding these trends and patterns can help policymakers, producers, traders, and consumers to make informed decisions and to adapt to the changing global environment.

References:

http://faostat.fao.org/Portals/_Faostat/documents/pdf/FAOSTAT-Forestry-def-e.pdf

https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/FO/visualize

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Share-of-the-major-countries-in-sturgeon-production-A-Share-of-the-major-countries-in_fig2_348296880

https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332329/leading-countries-worldwide-by-value-of-agricultural-products-exported/

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