U.S. Ag Exports Surprised in 2016

After a sluggish start to the year, U.S. agricultural exports rebounded in the second half to end at about $135 billion, a one percent increase from 2016 which was unexpected.

USDA Economist Bryce Cooke said for horticultural products, it was a bit of a mixed bag.

“You saw slight increases in things like vegetables and wine by three and two percent respectively and a two percent drop in fruit products, but generally the exports of horticultural products were in line with what they were in 2015.”

Cooke said it’s too early to tell if the second half of 2016 was a true point of turnaround for U.S. ag exports, but he said it sure looks that way.

The biggest winner in 2016 ag exports was soybeans which jumped 21 percent in value and corn which was up 20 percent.