10 Countries That Export the Most Food in the World
Food is one of the most essential commodities in the world, and some countries have mastered the art of producing and exporting it. According to the World Bank, food exports accounted for 6.4% of the world’s merchandise exports in 2021, amounting to $1.3 trillion. But which countries are the top food exporters, and what are their main products? Here is a list of 10 countries that export the most food in the world, based on their food export value in 2021.
1. United States
The United States is the largest food exporter in the world, with a value of $106.7 billion in 2021. The US has a diverse and abundant agricultural sector, producing everything from grains, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, fish, nuts, and beverages. Some of the top food products that the US exports are soybeans, corn, wheat, beef, pork, chicken, cheese, milk powder, wine, and beer. The main destinations for US food exports are Canada, Mexico, China, Japan, and the European Union.
2. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is the second-largest food exporter in the world, with a value of $62.5 billion in 2021. The UK has a strong and innovative food industry, specializing in processed foods, beverages, dairy products, meat products, seafood, cereals, sugar, and confectionery. Some of the top food products that the UK exports are whisky, chocolate, cheese, salmon, beef, lamb, biscuits, beer, and gin. The main destinations for UK food exports are Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.
3. Germany
Germany is the third-largest food exporter in the world, with a value of $44.4 billion in 2021. Germany has a highly developed and efficient food industry, focusing on dairy products, meat products, bakery products, confectionery, beverages, cereals, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables. Some of the top food products that Germany exports are cheese, butter, pork, beef, sausages, bread, chocolate, beer, and wine. The main destinations for Germany food exports are France, the Netherlands, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Poland.
4. China
China is the fourth-largest food exporter in the world, with a value of $37.8 billion in 2021 China has a vast and diverse agricultural sector, producing rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, tea, fish, meat, dairy products, and eggs. Some of the top food products that China exports are apples, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, fish fillets, shrimp, pork, chicken feet, infant formula, and tea. The main destinations for China food exports are Japan, Hong Kong, the United States, Vietnam, and South Korea.
5. France
France is the fifth-largest food exporter in the world, with a value of $29.7 billion in 2021. France has a rich and diverse culinary tradition, producing cheese, wine, bread, pastries, meat products, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, olive oil, and honey. Some of the top food products that France exports are wine, cheese, butter, champagne, cognac, foie gras, beef, lamb, and poultry. The main destinations for France food exports are Germany, Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Spain.
Countries by Food Exports: Trends and Challenges
Food exports are an important source of income and food security for many countries around the world. According to the World Bank, the value of food products exports in 2021 was over 3.2 trillion US dollars, accounting for about 8.5% of the total merchandise exports. However, not all countries have the same level of food export performance, and some face significant challenges in meeting the global demand and standards for food quality and safety.
Top Food Exporters in 2021
According to the World Bank data, the top five countries by food products exports in 2021 were:
United States
The US exported 106.7 billion US dollars worth of food products in 2021, representing 3.24% of its total exports and 3.32% of the world food exports. The main food products exported by the US were soybeans, corn, meat, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables.
United Kingdom
The UK exported 62.5 billion US dollars worth of food products in 2021, representing 6.18% of its total exports and 1.94% of the world food exports. The main food products exported by the UK were beverages, cereals, dairy products, meat, and fish.
Germany
Germany exported 44.4 billion US dollars worth of food products in 2021, representing 3.28% of its total exports and 1.38% of the world food exports. The main food products exported by Germany were meat, dairy products, beverages, cereals, and sugar.
China
China exported 37.8 billion US dollars worth of food products in 2021, representing 1.56% of its total exports and 1.18% of the world food exports. The main food products exported by China were fish, fruits and vegetables, meat, rice, and tea.
France
France exported 29.7 billion US dollars worth of food products in 2021, representing 4.35% of its total exports and 0.92% of the world food exports. The main food products exported by France were beverages, cereals, dairy products, sugar, and meat.
Trends and Challenges in Food Exports
The global demand for food products is expected to increase in the coming years due to population growth, urbanization, income growth, and dietary changes. However, food exporters also face several challenges in meeting this demand, such as:
Climate change
Climate change poses a threat to food production and trade by affecting crop yields, water availability, pest and disease outbreaks, and transport infrastructure. Food exporters need to adapt to the changing climate conditions and mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture.
Food safety and quality
Food safety and quality are essential for consumer health and trust, as well as for market access and competitiveness. Food exporters need to comply with the international standards and regulations for food safety and quality, such as the Codex Alimentarius and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement.
Trade barriers
Trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, subsidies, and non-tariff measures can distort the global food trade and reduce the benefits for food exporters. Food exporters need to negotiate for fairer and more open trade rules under the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other regional or bilateral trade agreements.
Food security
Food security is a human right and a global goal that requires ensuring adequate availability, access, utilization, and stability of food for all people at all times. Food exporters need to balance their export interests with their domestic food security needs and contribute to the global efforts to end hunger and malnutrition.
References:
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/BX.GSR.GNFS.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true
https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.EXP.GNFS.CD?locations=IR
https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/WLD/Year/LTST/TradeFlow/Export/Partner/by-country/Product/16-24_FoodProd
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_exports
https://knoema.com/atlas/topics/Foreign-Trade/Export/Food-exports
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/agricultural-exports-by-country
https://wits.worldbank.org/CountryProfile/en/Country/WLD/Year/LTST/TradeFlow/Export/Partner/by-country/Product/16-24_FoodProd
https://knoema.com/atlas/topics/Foreign-Trade/Export/Food-exports
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/agricultural-exports-by-country
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