U.S. Agriculture posted its highest annual export levels ever recorded in 2021. The final 2021 trade data published by the Department of Commerce Tuesday shows that exports of U.S. farm and food products totaled $177 billion.
The total beat the 2020 figure by 18 percent and eclipsed the previous record set in 2014, by 14.6 percent.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says, “These record-breaking trade numbers demonstrate that U.S. agriculture is incredibly resilient.”
The United States’ top ten export markets saw gains in 2021, with six of the ten – China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Colombia – setting new records. Worldwide exports of many U.S. products, including soybeans, corn, beef, pork, dairy, distillers grains and pet food, also reached all-time highs.
China remained the top export destination, with a record $33 billion in purchases, up 25 percent from 2020, while Mexico inched ahead of Canada to capture the number two position with a record $25.5 billion, up 39 percent from last year.
