USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reports that the total value of U.S. agricultural imports reached a new high in fiscal year (FY) 2021 (October-September) and will remain elevated in FY 2022.
Total U.S. agricultural import values were recorded at more than $163 billion in FY 2021 and are forecast to exceed $159 billion in FY 2022. By dollar value, the largest category of U.S. agricultural imports is horticultural products, which includes fruit, vegetables, tree nuts, wine, beer and spirits. Values of fresh fruit imports, such as bananas, avocados, strawberries and blueberries, have trended upward in recent years as more produce is imported during the off-season to meet U.S. consumer demand for year-round produce.
Rising import volumes and values of fresh vegetables, wine and beer also contributed to overall growth in horticultural imports. The value of horticultural product imports is $86.1 billion in FY 2021, up almost $19 billion from the five-year average of $67.5 billion.
Livestock, dairy and poultry imports in FY 2021 are valued at $21 billion, up from their five-year average of $17.4 billion to $20.1 billion in FY 2022. Sugar and tropical products, which include coffee and cocoa, increased to $23.9 billion, up from their five-year average of $21.6 billion. — USDA ERS
