7 Biggest Food Exporters in the World: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you curious about which countries produce and export the most food in the world? Do you want to learn more about the global food trade and its implications for food security, sustainability, and development? If so, this article is for you.

In this article, we will explore the 7 biggest food exporters in the world, based on the latest data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). We will also discuss the main types of food products they export, their main markets, and some of the challenges and opportunities they face.

But first, let’s define what we mean by food exports. According to the FAO, food exports include both agricultural commodities (such as cereals, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, etc.) and processed food products (such as beverages, confectionery, bakery, etc.). However, they exclude fish and seafood products, which are considered separately.

So, without further ado, here are the 7 biggest food exporters in the world as of 2020:

1. United States

The United States is the largest exporter of food in the world, accounting for more than 10% of total global exports in 2020. The US exported food worth USD 124 billion in 2020, up from USD 119 billion in 2019. The US has a diverse and competitive agricultural sector, producing a wide range of crops and livestock products. Some of the main food products that the US exports are soybeans, corn, wheat, beef, pork, poultry, dairy, fruits, nuts, and processed foods. The US also imports food worth USD 133 billion in 2020, mainly from Canada, Mexico, China, and the European Union.

The US faces several challenges and opportunities in its food trade. On one hand, it benefits from its large domestic market, advanced technology and infrastructure, strong research and innovation capacity, and favorable trade agreements with many countries. On the other hand, it faces increasing competition from other exporters, especially Brazil and China; rising environmental and social concerns; trade disputes and barriers; and changing consumer preferences and demand.

2. Netherlands

The Netherlands is the second-largest exporter of food in the world, accounting for more than 6% of total global exports in 2020. The Netherlands exported food worth USD 79 billion in 2020, down from USD 82 billion in 2019. The Netherlands is a small but densely populated country with limited natural resources. However, it has developed a highly efficient and innovative agricultural sector that specializes in high-value products such as flowers, vegetables, fruits, dairy products,
cheese , eggs , meat , potatoes , and processed foods . The Netherlands also imports food worth USD 64 billion in 2020 , mainly from Germany , Belgium , France , Brazil , and China .

The Netherlands faces several challenges and opportunities in its food trade . On one hand , it benefits from its strategic location , modern infrastructure , skilled workforce , high quality standards , and strong trade relations with the European Union and other countries . On the other hand , it faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental impact , especially its greenhouse gas emissions , water use , and land use ; to ensure animal welfare ; to cope with climate change ; and to diversify its markets and products .

3. Brazil

Brazil is the third-largest exporter of food in the world , accounting for more than 6% of total global exports in 2020 . Brazil exported food worth USD 73 billion in 2020 , up from USD 67 billion in 2019 . Brazil has a vast and diverse agricultural sector that produces a wide range of crops and livestock products . Some of the main food products that Brazil exports are soybeans , corn , sugar cane , coffee , beef , poultry , pork , orange juice , ethanol , and tobacco . Brazil also imports food worth USD 13 billion in 2020 , mainly from Argentina , United States , China , Chile , and Paraguay .

Brazil faces several challenges and opportunities in its food trade . On one hand , it benefits from its abundant natural resources , favorable climate , large domestic market , low production costs , and growing demand from China and other countries . On the other hand , it faces increasing competition from other exporters , especially Argentina and India ; environmental and social issues such as deforestation , land conflicts , labor rights , and food safety ; trade barriers and disputes ; and infrastructure bottlenecks .

4. China

China is the fourth-largest exporter of food in the world , accounting for more than 5% of total global exports in 2020 . China exported food worth USD 65 billion in 2020 , up from USD
62 billion in 2019 . China has a huge and complex agricultural sector that produces a wide range of crops and livestock products . Some of the main food products that China exports are fruits , vegetables , rice , tea , fish , seafood , meat , dairy products , and processed foods . China also imports food worth USD 133 billion in 2020 , mainly from Brazil , United States , Australia , Canada , and New Zealand .

China faces several challenges and opportunities in its food trade . On one hand , it benefits from its large and growing domestic market , rapid economic development , technological innovation , and trade diversification . On the other hand , it faces increasing demand for food security , quality , and diversity ; rising production costs and resource constraints ; environmental and health problems ; trade tensions and conflicts ; and changing consumer preferences and behavior .

5. Germany

Germany is the fifth-largest exporter of food in the world , accounting for more than 4% of total global exports in 2020 . Germany exported food worth USD 54 billion in 2020 , down from USD 56 billion in 2019 . Germany has a highly developed and diversified agricultural sector that produces a wide range of crops and livestock products . Some of the main food products that Germany exports are dairy products , meat , bakery products , confectionery , beverages , cereals , oilseeds , and processed foods . Germany also imports food worth USD 66 billion in 2020 , mainly from Netherlands , France , Belgium , Poland , and Italy .

Germany faces several challenges and opportunities in its food trade . On one hand , it benefits from its strong industrial base , high quality standards , innovation capacity , and trade integration with the European Union and other countries . On the other hand , it faces increasing competition from other exporters , especially Poland and Ukraine ; environmental and social regulations ; consumer awareness and demand for organic and fair trade products ; and demographic changes and aging population .

6. France

France is the sixth-largest exporter of food in the world, accounting for more than 4% of total global exports in 2020. France exported food worth USD 52 billion in 2020, down from USD 54 billion in 2019. France has a rich and diverse agricultural sector that produces a wide range of crops and livestock products. Some of the main food products that France exports are wine, cheese, dairy products, meat, cereals, fruits, vegetables, sugar, and processed foods. France also imports food worth USD 44 billion in 2020, mainly from Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium.

France faces several challenges and opportunities in its food trade. On one hand, it benefits from its cultural heritage, gastronomic reputation, high quality standards, innovation capacity, and trade integration with the European Union and other countries. On the other hand, it faces increasing competition from other exporters, especially Spain and Italy; environmental and social regulations; consumer awareness and demand for organic and local products; and climate change impacts.

7. Canada

Canada is the seventh-largest exporter of food in the world, accounting for more than 3% of total global exports in 2020. Canada exported food worth USD 41 billion in 2020, up from USD 39 billion in 2019. Canada has a large and diverse agricultural sector that produces a wide range of crops and livestock products. Some of the main food products that Canada exports are wheat, canola, pulses, meat, dairy products, maple syrup, fish, seafood, and processed foods. Canada also imports food worth USD 32 billion in 2020, mainly from United States, Mexico, China, Brazil, and Italy.

Canada faces several challenges and opportunities in its food trade. On one hand, it benefits from its abundant natural resources, favorable climate, advanced technology and infrastructure, skilled workforce, high quality standards, and trade agreements with many countries. On the other hand, it faces increasing competition from other exporters, especially United States and Australia; environmental and social regulations; consumer awareness and demand for healthy and sustainable products; and trade barriers and disputes.

In this article, we have explored the 7 biggest food exporters in the world as of 2020. We have seen that these countries have different strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in their food trade. We have also seen that the global food trade is influenced by many factors such as supply and demand, prices, policies, regulations, agreements, disputes, preferences, behavior s etc.

We hope that this article has given you some insights into the global food trade and its implications for food security, sustainability, development etc.

Biggest Food Exporters in the World

The global food trade is a complex and dynamic system that involves the production, distribution and consumption of various agricultural commodities. The food trade is influenced by many factors such as climate, population, income, policies, technology and preferences. In this post, we will look at some of the biggest food exporters in the world and how the global demand for their products has changed over time.

The United States: The Leader in Food Exports

The United States is the world’s biggest food exporter, accounting for 17% of global exports in 2018. It exports a wide variety of food products such as soybeans, wheat, corn, meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables. The US has a large and diverse agricultural sector that benefits from advanced technology, infrastructure and research. The US also has a strong domestic market that drives the demand for its food products.

The US food exports have increased steadily over the past two decades, reaching a record high of $172 billion in 2014. However, since then, they have declined slightly due to lower commodity prices, trade disputes and increased competition from other countries. In 2020, the US food exports were valued at $124 billion, down 5% from 2019. The main destinations for US food exports were China, Canada, Mexico, Japan and the European Union.

China: The Rising Star in Food Exports

China is the second-largest food exporter in the world, accounting for 12% of global exports in 2018. It mainly exports rice and fruits, but also other products such as vegetables, tea, fish and seafood. China has a huge and growing population that consumes a large amount of food. However, China also produces more food than it consumes, thanks to its vast land area, abundant labor force and rapid economic development.

China’s food exports have increased dramatically over the past two decades, from $15 billion in 2000 to $145 billion in 2018. This reflects China’s rising role in the global food system as both a producer and a consumer. China’s food exports have also diversified over time, as it has expanded its markets to more regions and countries. In 2020, China’s food exports were valued at $140 billion, up 3% from 2019. The main destinations for China’s food exports were Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea and the United States.

Brazil: The Powerhouse of Food Exports

Brazil is the third-largest food exporter in the world, accounting for 6% of global exports in 2018. It mainly exports soybeans, sugar cane, coffee, meat and corn. Brazil has a rich and varied agricultural sector that relies on its natural resources, favorable climate and competitive prices. Brazil also has a large domestic market that consumes a significant amount of its food production.

Brazil’s food exports have grown rapidly over the past two decades, from $20 billion in 2000 to $97 billion in 2018. This reflects Brazil’s increasing competitiveness and efficiency in the global food market. Brazil’s food exports have also become more diversified over time, as it has developed new products and markets. In 2020, Brazil’s food exports were valued at $73 billion, down 25% from 2019. The main destinations for Brazil’s food exports were China, the European Union, the United States, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The global food trade is an important aspect of the world economy that affects the livelihoods of millions of people. The biggest food exporters in the world are the United States, China and Brazil, which together account for 35% of global exports. These countries have different strengths and challenges in their agricultural sectors and face different opportunities and threats in their export markets. The global demand for their products is influenced by many factors such as population growth, income levels, dietary preferences and environmental changes.

References:

https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.GNFS.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true

https://knoema.com//atlas/Taiwan-Province-of-China/topics/Foreign-Trade/Export/Exports-of-goods-and-services

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_producing_countries_of_agricultural_commodities
https://www.fao.org/3/cb9928en/cb9928en.pdf
https://largestandbiggest.com/business/which-countries-are-the-largest-exporters-of-food/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_exports

http://www.fao.org/home/en/

https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture

https://www.usda.gov/topics/international

https://ec.europa