2020 Country Overview
Top U.S. Agricultural Export Markets(values in million USD) |
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| Country | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2019-2020 % Change | 2016-2020 Average |
| China | 21,394 | 19,476 | 9,145 | 13,860 | 26,434 | 91% | 18,062 |
| Canada | 20,307 | 20,608 | 20,867 | 20,886 | 20,992 | 1% | 20,732 |
| Mexico | 17,827 | 18,598 | 19,090 | 19,179 | 18,094 | -6% | 18,558 |
| Japan | 11,030 | 11,915 | 12,925 | 11,740 | 11,487 | -2% | 11,819 |
| EU27+UK | 11,523 | 11,438 | 13,502 | 11,761 | 11,234 | -4% | 11,892 |
| South Korea | 6,183 | 6,872 | 8,313 | 7,524 | 7,530 | 0% | 7,285 |
| Vietnam | 2,656 | 2,532 | 3,991 | 3,480 | 3,348 | -4% | 3,201 |
| Taiwan | 3,226 | 3,317 | 3,949 | 3,565 | 3,262 | -9% | 3,464 |
| Philippines | 2,573 | 2,581 | 2,954 | 2,898 | 3,151 | 9% | 2,831 |
| Indonesia | 2,678 | 2,892 | 3,094 | 2,858 | 2,832 | -1% | 2,871 |
| Colombia | 2,383 | 2,528 | 2,904 | 2,667 | 2,740 | 3% | 2,644 |
| Hong Kong | 3,832 | 4,213 | 3,959 | 2,992 | 2,018 | -33% | 3,403 |
| Egypt | 741 | 770 | 1,914 | 1,558 | 1,930 | 24% | 1,383 |
| Thailand | 1,594 | 1,839 | 2,121 | 1,825 | 1,775 | -3% | 1,831 |
| United Kingdom | 1,906 | 1,702 | 1,823 | 1,649 | 1,603 | -3% | 1,737 |
| All Others | 26,731 | 28,603 | 30,816 | 29,858 | 28,854 | -3% | 28,972 |
| World Total | 134,678 | 138,183 | 139,544 | 136,650 | 145,683 | 7% | 138,948 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Trade Data - BICO HS-10
*UK is counted in the EU-27+UK, but also reported as a separate market given its withdrawal from the EU customs union.
Hightlights
U.S. agricultural exports rebounded in 2020 with a 7-percent ($9 billion) increase from the previous year. Record exports of $26.4 billion to China were a $12.6 billion increase from 2019, which offset a $3.5 billion decrease in exports to the rest of the world.
In 2020, China established a process for importers to seek exclusions from retaliatory Section 301 tariffs on U.S. products, including agricultural products. China also removed certain structural barriers to trade, expanding market access for a variety of U.S. agricultural exports in the world’s largest food import market. Simultaneously, increased U.S. competitiveness, due to production issues with foreign competitors and increased grain and oilseed prices in China, led to a surge in demand for U.S. exports.
Amongst the other top 15 markets, U.S. exports declined to 10 of those destinations. While the COVID-19 pandemic had a limited impact on the overall value of global trade of agricultural goods, there were impacts on some specific commodities, especially those used in manufacturing, such as cotton and hides, and high-value products such as beef and tree nuts.
The economic slowdown and public health restrictions, including on the hospitality sector, were more pronounced in some countries than others. Mexico experienced a deep recession contributing to a 6-percent decline in imports from the United States.
North American trading partners and the advanced economies of Japan, the European Union, and South Korea remained in the top 6 importing nations of U.S. goods. The emerging economies of Southeast Asia continued to be strong importers with Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand all remaining in the top 15. The Philippines was a success story in 2020, increasing imports by 9 percent, led by greater values of dairy products and soybean meal. Egypt increased imports from the United States by 24 percent led by greater purchases of soybeans, dairy products, and tree nuts.
Other than Mexico, U.S. exports fell sharply to the EU27+UK, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The largest decreases to the EU27+UK were in tree nuts, beef, and wine. Taiwan imported less soybeans, corn, and cotton, and Hong Kong reduced their imports of U.S. tree nuts, poultry, beef, and fresh fruit.