Exports Off In June, But Higher For 2018

The USDA now has complete trade numbers for the first nine months of this fiscal year.  And while June exports came in at $11.8 billion, which is down from May, but the U.S. still had the highest year total on record.

USDA Trade Economist Bryce Cooke said May 2018 was also the biggest May export month ever.  And so, for the fiscal year through June, the U.S. has sold $110.9 billion dollars worth of Ag products overseas.

"About $1.8 billion above 2017, or about a 2% increase."

At this point, it's the high-value export sales that are on the way up.

"Red meat products are up 10%, poultry products, dairy products up 5% in value terms over the previous year," Cooke noted.

Bulk products, on the whole, down from a year ago.  In value terms several decreases to report, soybeans 10%, corn 3%, wheat 1%, but cotton was up 7%.

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