7 Top Agricultural Exporters in the World
Agricultural products are essential for human consumption, animal feed, and industrial use. They also play a vital role in international trade, contributing to the economic growth and development of many countries. According to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the global value of agricultural exports reached $1.8 trillion in 2020, an increase of 3.5% from 2019.
But which countries are the top agricultural exporters in the world? Based on the latest data from Statista, here are the seven leading countries by value of agricultural products exported in 2020.
1. United States
The United States was the largest exporter of agricultural goods in 2020, with a value of $147.9 billion. The main products exported by the U.S. were grains and feeds, soybeans, livestock products, tree nuts, fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural products. The U.S. also had a positive trade balance of $26.9 billion in agricultural products, meaning that it exported more than it imported.
2. Netherlands
The Netherlands was the second-largest exporter of agricultural goods in 2020, with a value of $103.4 billion. The Netherlands is a major European shipping hub and a leader in horticulture, dairy, and floriculture. The main products exported by the Netherlands were flowers, plants, bulbs, cheese, eggs, meat, vegetables, and fruits.
3. Brazil
Brazil was the third-largest exporter of agricultural goods in 2020, with a value of $85 billion. Brazil is a major producer and exporter of soybeans, corn, sugar, coffee, beef, poultry, pork, and ethanol. Brazil also had a positive trade balance of $75.5 billion in agricultural products, the highest among the top exporters.
4. China
China was the fourth-largest exporter of agricultural goods in 2020, with a value of $79.5 billion. China is a major producer and exporter of rice, wheat, cotton, tea, fruits, vegetables, fishery products, and processed foods. China also imported more agricultural products than it exported, resulting in a negative trade balance of $91.5 billion.
5. Germany
Germany was the fifth-largest exporter of agricultural goods in 2020, with a value of $67 billion. Germany is a major producer and exporter of dairy products, meat products, cereals, sugar beet, potatoes, beer, wine, and confectionery. Germany also imported more agricultural products than it exported, resulting in a negative trade balance of $13 billion.
6. France
France was the sixth-largest exporter of agricultural goods in 2020, with a value of $66 billion. France is a major producer and exporter of wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, wine, cheese, milk powder, poultry meat, and foie gras. France also had a positive trade balance of $10 billion in agricultural products.
7. Canada
Canada was the seventh-largest exporter of agricultural goods in 2020, with a value of $56 billion. Canada is a major producer and exporter of wheat, canola oilseed rape (rapeseed), pulses (legumes), maple syrup, flaxseed (linseed), pork, and beef. Canada also had a positive trade balance of $8 billion in agricultural products.
These seven countries accounted for 55% of the total value of agricultural exports in 2020. They also demonstrated their resilience and competitiveness in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges such as climate change, trade disputes, and food security issues.
Top Agricultural Exporters in 2020
According to Statista, the leading countries worldwide by value of agricultural products exported in 2020 were the United States, the Netherlands, Brazil, China, and Germany . These five countries accounted for about 40 percent of the global agricultural exports, which reached $1.6 trillion in 2020.
U.S. Agricultural Exports
The United States was the largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of $147.9 billion, an increase of 3 percent from 2019. The main export categories were grains and feeds, soybeans, livestock products, tree nuts, fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural products. The top export destinations were China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the European Union .
Netherlands Agricultural Exports
The Netherlands was the second largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of $101.4 billion, a decrease of 4 percent from 2019. The main export categories were flowers and plants, dairy products, meat products, vegetables, and fruits. The top export destinations were Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy .
Brazil Agricultural Exports
Brazil was the third largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of $85 billion, an increase of 6 percent from 2019. The main export categories were soybeans and soybean products, meat products, sugar and ethanol, coffee, and corn. The top export destinations were China, the European Union, the United States, Japan, and Iran .
China Agricultural Exports
China was the fourth largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of $79.5 billion, an increase of 3 percent from 2019. The main export categories were fruits and vegetables, fish and seafood products, meat products, cereals and cereal preparations, and edible oils. The top export destinations were Japan, Hong Kong SAR China, Vietnam, the United States, and South Korea .
Germany Agricultural Exports
Germany was the fifth largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of $67 billion, a decrease of 3 percent from 2019. The main export categories were dairy products, meat products, beverages, cereals and cereal preparations, and sugar and confectionery. The top export destinations were the Netherlands, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy .
The global trade of agricultural products is influenced by various factors such as production levels, demand patterns, prices, trade policies, and exchange rates. The top five agricultural exporters in 2020 were able to maintain or increase their market shares despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other geopolitical issues. They also diversified their export portfolios and destinations to enhance their competitiveness and resilience.
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.statista.com/statistics/1332329/leading-countries-worldwide-by-value-of-agricultural-products-exported/
https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/agricultural-trade/
https://www.statista.com/topics/1708/agricultural-sector-in-the-netherlands/
https://www.brazil.gov.br/en/news/2021/01/brazilian-agribusiness-exports-reach-us-100-billion-for-first-time-ever
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41396.pdf
https://www.statista.com/topics/1707/agriculture-in-germany/
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332329/leading-countries-worldwide-by-value-of-agricultural-products-exported/
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