7 Largest Agricultural Exporters in the World

Are you curious about which countries produce and export the most agricultural products in the world? In this article, we will rank the top seven largest agricultural exporters based on their export value in 2020, according to Statista. We will also discuss what kinds of products they export and to which markets.

Agricultural products include food, fibers, fuels, and raw materials that are derived from plants and animals. They are essential for human consumption, animal feed, industrial use, and trade. Some of the most traded agricultural products are cereals, oilseeds, sugar, meat, dairy, fruits, and vegetables.

The global value of agricultural exports reached 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020, an increase of 3.5 percent from 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the production, distribution, and demand of agricultural products in different ways. Some countries faced supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, and trade restrictions, while others saw increased demand for food security and resilience.

The following are the top seven largest agricultural exporters in the world in 2020:

1. United States

The United States was the leading exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of 147.9 billion U.S. dollars. The United States exports a wide range of products, such as soybeans, corn, wheat, cotton, beef, pork, poultry, dairy, fruits, and nuts. The main destinations for U.S. agricultural exports are China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the European Union.

2. Netherlands

The Netherlands was the second-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of 106 billion U.S. dollars. The Netherlands is known for its high-tech and efficient agriculture sector, which produces and exports mainly flowers, vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, and processed foods. The main markets for Dutch agricultural exports are Germany, Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

3. Brazil

Brazil was the third-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of 85 billion U.S. dollars. Brazil is a major producer and exporter of soybeans, corn, sugar cane, coffee, beef, poultry, pork, and ethanol. The main destinations for Brazilian agricultural exports are China, the European Union, the United States, Japan, and India.

4. China

China was the fourth-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of 79.5 billion U.S. dollars. China is a large and diverse producer and exporter of rice, wheat, corn, vegetables, fruits, tea, pork, poultry, eggs, and seafood. The main markets for Chinese agricultural exports are Japan, the United States, the European Union, Hong Kong, and South Korea.

5. Germany

Germany was the fifth-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of 67 billion U.S. dollars. Germany is a major producer and exporter of dairy, meat, wheat, barley, sugar beet, potatoes, and beer. The main destinations for German agricultural exports are the Netherlands, France, Italy, Poland, and China.

6. France

France was the sixth-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of 66 billion U.S. dollars. France is a leading producer and exporter of wine, cheese, wheat, corn, sugar beet, rapeseed, fruits, and vegetables. The main markets for French agricultural exports are Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

7. Canada

Canada was the seventh-largest exporter of agricultural products in 2020, with a value of 56 billion U.S. dollars. Canada is a major producer and exporter of wheat, canola, barley, oats, flaxseed, lentils, peas, beef, pork, and maple syrup. The main destinations for Canadian agricultural exports are the United States, China, Japan, the European Union, and Mexico.

These are the top seven largest agricultural exporters in the world in 2020. They account for more than half of the global value of agricultural exports. They also play an important role in ensuring food security and sustainability for themselves and other countries.

The Global Demand for Agricultural Products

Agricultural products are essential for human consumption, animal feed, biofuel, and industrial purposes. The global demand for agricultural products is influenced by various factors, such as population growth, income levels, dietary preferences, climate change, trade policies, and technological innovations. In this blog post, we will examine the trends and patterns of the global demand for agricultural products, focusing on the largest exporters and importers of these goods.

The Largest Exporters of Agricultural Products

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the total value of agricultural exports worldwide was 1.8 trillion U.S. dollars in 2020. The leading countries by value of agricultural products exported in 2020 were:

• The United States of America, with 147.9 billion U.S. dollars, accounting for 8.2 percent of the global share. The main agricultural products exported by the U.S. were soybeans, corn, wheat, cotton, and meat.
• The Netherlands, with 106.6 billion U.S. dollars, representing 5.9 percent of the global share. The main agricultural products exported by the Netherlands were vegetables, flowers, dairy products, meat, and eggs.
• Brazil, with 85 billion U.S. dollars, corresponding to 4.7 percent of the global share. The main agricultural products exported by Brazil were soybeans, sugar, coffee, meat, and corn.
• China, with 79.5 billion U.S. dollars, equivalent to 4.4 percent of the global share. The main agricultural products exported by China were fruits, vegetables, rice, tea, and fish.
• Germany, with 67 billion U.S. dollars, amounting to 3.7 percent of the global share. The main agricultural products exported by Germany were dairy products, meat, cereals, sugar, and wine.

The Increase or Decrease of Global Demand in This Industry

The global demand for agricultural products is expected to increase in the coming years, driven by population growth, income growth, urbanization, and dietary changes in developing countries. According to the FAO, the world population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, which will require a 50 percent increase in food production compared to 2012 levels. Moreover, the rising incomes and living standards in emerging economies will lead to a higher demand for animal products, fruits, vegetables, vegetable oils, and sugar. Additionally, the rapid urbanization and globalization will create more opportunities for trade and consumption of diverse and processed foods.

However, the global demand for agricultural products also faces some challenges and uncertainties that may affect its growth rate and direction. Some of these factors include:

• Climate change, which poses significant risks to agricultural production and food security due to extreme weather events, water scarcity, pests and diseases, soil degradation, and biodiversity loss.
• Trade policies, which can influence the availability and prices of agricultural products through tariffs, subsidies, quotas, sanctions, and agreements.
• Technological innovations, which can enhance or disrupt the productivity and efficiency of agricultural systems through biotechnology, digitalization, automation, precision agriculture, and alternative food sources.

References:

http://faostat.fao.org/Portals/_Faostat/documents/pdf/FAOSTAT-Forestry-def-e.pdf

https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL/visualize

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Share-of-the-major-countries-in-sturgeon-production-A-Share-of-the-major-countries-in_fig2_348296880
https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/international-trade/market-intelligence/reports/statistical-overview-of-canada-s-agri-food-and-seafood-trade-2019/?id=1589899000578
http://www.fao.org/publications/sofa/2016/en/
https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/agriculture-and-food/oecd-fao-agricultural-outlook-2020-2029_agr_outlook-2020-en
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1332329/leading-countries-worldwide-by-value-of-agricultural-products-exported/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_producing_countries_of_agricultural_commodities
https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0712/top-agricultural-producing-countries.aspx
https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2022/03/agricultural-exports-exceeded-100-billion-euros-in-2021

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