May 2 2011

US agri exports hit record high

US farm exports reached US$115.8 billion last year, exceeding the previous high of US$114.8 billion set in 2008.

Both the value and volume of US agricultural exports worldwide has increased.

"Today's numbers indicate that the demand for US food and agricultural products is soaring worldwide," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a press release. "Every US$1 billion in agricultural exports supports 8,000 American jobs, which means agricultural exports supported nearly one million jobs in 2010."

Export sales surged both in bulk commodities, which increased 19% to US$47.2 billion, and for consumer-oriented agricultural products, which increased 15% to US$45.4 billion.

For the first time in history, China is the top market for US agricultural exports. China imported agricultural products valued at US$17.5 billion from the US in 2010. This accounts for 15.1% of total US agricultural exports. Soy is the primary farm product China imports from the US.