Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that trade data from the Department of Commerce showed agricultural exports for 2021 totaled $177 billion, 18 percent above the 2020 total and eclipsing the previous record set in 2014 by 14.6 percent.
“This is a major boost for the economy as a whole, and particularly for our rural communities, with agricultural exports stimulating local economic activity, helping maintain our competitive edge globally, supporting producers’ bottom lines, and supporting more than 1.3 million jobs on the farm and in related industries such as food processing and transportation,” Vilsack said in a statement.
The U.S.’ top 10 export markets saw gains in 2021, with six of the 10—China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, the Philippines and Colombia—setting new records. China remained the top export destination, with $33 billion in purchases, up 25 percent from 2020, while Mexico moved ahead of Canada to the number two position with a record $25.5 billion, up 39 percent from last year.
Vilsack said in a press release the Biden administration is working to strengthen relationships with trading partners and address transportation issues through the work of the Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force.
