Ag Exports Ahead of 2016 Pace

The pace of U.S. agricultural exports in the first four months of this export year is surpassing 2016 significantly.

USDA Trade Analyst Bryce Cooke said exports are currently valued at nearly $55 billion, 16 percent higher than last year and that has helped the trade deficit.

“From $9.5 billion to $14.8 this year.”

Imports are up as well, but only at six percent.

Cooke said the improvements are being seen across the board.

“We’ve actually seen a 63 percent jump in the value of corn exports. You look at wheat, it’s up 18 percent. There’s a similar positive story in animal products whether it be red meat, up 19 percent, poultry up 10 percent, dairy products up 11 percent.”

The biggest bump in exports is in cotton which is up 94 percent in value and 104 percent in volume.