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Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. . A v \ lited States An Economic Research Service Report A . ^ jpartment of '' ^ .griculture Foreign Agricultural Trade c %' of the United States FATUS January/February/March 1996 Sales information Foreign Agricultural Trade of the United States is available on a subscription basis. Subscription includes four quarterly issues and two annual supplements. Subscription rates are $29 domestic; $36.25 foreign. Send check or money order payable to "ERS-NASS" to: ERS-NASS 341 Victory Drive Herndon, VA 22070 For faster service or more information, call 1-800-999-6779. Time to Renew? See renewal information on the back cover List of Abbreviations Abbreviation Description Abbreviation Description Ag Agricultural MT Metric tons Anhyd Anhydrous NA Not applicable Cent plan Centrally planned n.e.c. Not elsewhere classified Chill Chilled NO Number Devel Developed Nonag Nonagricultural Dol Dollars OC Ocean Evap Evaporated Pac Pacific Ex Excluding Parb Parboiled Ext Extracts Pen Peninsula Fr Fresh Prep Preparations, prepared Froz, Frz Frozen Pres Preserved HL Hectoliters Prod Products Incl Including Prop Propelled Is Island(s) Prot Protein Mach Machinery Terr Territory Mfg Manufactured Unmfg Unmanufactured Misc Miscellaneous Veg Vegetable(s) Prepared by the Trade Analysis Branch, Commercial Agriculture Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Principal coordinators are Joel L. Greene and Lilia E. George. Mrs. George also provides word processing and table formatting support. Editorial support is furnished by Martha R. Evans, Publishing and Communications Branch, Information Services Division, Economic Research Service. Data processing support is provided by Kenneth King, Information Technology Services, Information Services Division. Foreign Agricultural Trade of the United States. Trade Analysis Branch, Commercial Agriculture Division, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Digest Exports Hit Record $55.8 Billion in 1995 (see p. 2)~U.S. agricultural exports in calendar year 1995 rose 22 percent to a record $55.8 billion because of very strong bulk commodity sales and continued strength in high- value product (HVP) exports. Bulk exports jumped to $25.6 billion and HVP exports rose to $30.2 billion. At $11 billion, Japan was the leading market for farm products, followed by the European Union (EU-15) and Canada. The largest year-to-year expansion in U.S. exports was to China, which gained 144 percent to $2.6 billion. Imports Reached a Record $30 Billion in 1995 (see p. 6)--U.S. agricultural imports increased 12 percent to a record $30 billion in calendar year 1995. Advances were widespread with especially strong gains in rubber, coffee, and cattle. Coffee, vegetables, beverages, and grain and feeds were the leading imports in value terms. Note to Subscribers Commencing with this issue, the Foreign Agricultural Trade of the United States (FATUS) will be published quarterly with two annual supplements, instead of bimonthly with two supplements. The Economic Research Service plans to phase out the printed issues of FATUS and provide the data in electronic form beginning in 1997. The data published in the January/February/March issue will include calendar year totals; the April/May/June issue, data from the first 6 months of the fiscal year; the July/August/September issue, 9 months of fiscal year data; and the October/November/December issue will include fiscal year totals. The export and import data files (tables A-2 and B-3 in the FATUS publication) are available each month on the CALL-ERS/NASS electronic bulletin board. Set your communications software to 9600 (or lower) baud, N-8-1, and dial 1-800-821-6229, or 1-202-219-0377 to access the bulletin board. Log on as a new user and follow the instructions. The tables are self extracting archives which are decompressed by typing the file name at the command prompt. The data files will be available on ERS's homepage on the internet. The address is http://www.econ.ag.gov/. The files are located under Electronic Publications-Situation and Outlook Reports-U.S. Agricultural Trade. ERS plans to merge FATUS and U.S. Agricultural Trade Update into a single subscription in 1997. Subscribers will receive the monthly newsletter, and have electronic monthly access to the FATUS data files, and the fiscal and calendar year supplements. Special articles, such as State export shares and export share of production, will be summarized in the monthly update and made available electronically. 1 Exports Hit Record $55.8 Billion in 1995 Cotton shipments increased 17 percent to more than 2 million tons, but export value rose 39 perent to a record $3.7 billion because of strong cotton prices. U.S. agricultural exports in calendar year 1995 rose The U.S. cotton export price reached $1,806 per ton 22 percent to a record $55.8 billion because of very in 1995, the highest since 1981. China purchased strong bulk commodity sales and continued strength 466,000 tons valued at more than $800 million. in high-value product (HVP) exports. Bulk exports Because of production shortfalls in India and jumped to $25.6 billion and HVP exports rose to Pakistan, which are usually export competitors, the $30.2 billion. At $11 billion, Japan was the leading United States exported 27,000 tons and 70,000 market for farm products, followed by the European Union (EU-15) and Canada. The largest year-to-year tons, respectively to these countries. expansion in U.S. exports was to China, which Soybean exports increased 26 percent to 22.8 gained 144 percent to $2.6 billion. million tons as exports in early 1995 were stronger than normal as Brazilian soybeans were slow en¬ tering the global market. A developing tight supply Bulk Exports Highest Since Early 1980's situation then boosted sales at the end of 1995 as The United States exported 128.2 million tons of the soybean prices rose. The EU-15 was the largest wheat, rice, feed grains, oilseeds, cotton, and market with exports of 9.4 million tons, up from 7.1 tobacco, the highest volume since 1982. Export million tons. The United States ex-ported 4 million volume rose 32 percent compared with 1994. In¬ tons to Japan and 2.5 million tons to Taiwan. creased feed grain shipments accounted for most of the gain as exports climbed 55 percent to 66.8 million tons. Bulk export value rose 38 percent to HVP Exports Surpass $30 Billion $25.6 billion, the highest since 1981, because of higher export prices for wheat, feed grains, and U.S. exports of HVP commodities increased 11 cotton. percent to $30.2 billion. A 20-percent increase in animal product exports to $10.9 billion, specifically Corn shipments increased 68 percent to 60 million meats, fats and oils, and hides, accounted for most tons, the highest since 1980, because of strong of the HVP gain. Animal fats and oils increased 39 global demand for corn and reduced competition percent to $827 million on increased sales to Mexico from other exporters. China's withdrawal from the and Western Europe. Cattle hide exports increased export market and switch to a large net corn im¬ 16 percent to $1.4 billion on gains to Japan, South porter greatly boosted U.S. corn exports. U.S. Korea, and Taiwan. Horticultural exports rose less shipments to the four largest markets reached re¬ than 4 percent to about $9 billion. Oilseed product cords. Exports to Japan jumped 32 percent to a exports increased 23 percent to nearly $3 billion, record 16 million tons, shipments to South Korea with vegetable oil accounting for most of the more than tripled to a record 9 million tons, and growth, gaining 32 per-cent to $1.8 billion. sales to Taiwan increased 22 percent to 6.1 million tons. China imported nearly 5.4 million tons com¬ U.S. red meat exports rose 22 percent to $4.5 bil¬ pared with 36,000 tons in 1994. The value of corn lion. Japan was the leading destination for U.S. red exports jumped 86 percent to $7.3 billion as export meats, followed by Canada, South Korea, Mexico, prices were 10 percent higher than in 1994 because and Russia. Export growth was strong to Japan and tight corn supplies boosted prices during the year. South Korea, flat to Canada, down more than 50 percent to Mexico, but up more than 260 percent to Wheat exports rose 6 percent to 32.3 million tons, Russia. but wheat export value increased 34 percent to $5.4 billion. The U.S. export price for wheat rose Beef exports advanced 15 percent to $2.6 billion. 27 percent to $168 per ton in 1995 because tight Exports to Japan rose 27 percent to a record $1.7 stocks boosted global wheat prices. The United billion, and exports to South Korea rose 41 percent States exported a record 5.4 million tons of wheat to a record $321 million. Beef exports to Mexico fell to Egypt. China was the second leading market with 63 percent to $85 million. U.S. pork exports rose 54 3.6 million tons, followed by Japan (2.8 million percent to a record $847 million because of strong tons), the Philippines (1.8 million tons), and Pakistan sales to Japan, which reached a record (1.6 million tons). 2 $594 million. Russia was the second leading market 1983. Canada was the third leading market at $5.7 for U.S. pork with exports of $72 million, compared billion, 4 percent higher than in 1994. Exports to with $8 million in 1994. U.S. variety meat exports South Korea climbed 61 percent to $3.8 billion, reached a record $732 million. Japan was the lead¬ becoming the fourth largest market and surpassing ing market at $422 million, followed by Mexico at Mexico. Bulk exports to South Korea increased $74 million. Russia was the third leading market for more than 100 percent to more than $2.1 billion. variety meats at $64 million. Exports to Mexico fell 22 percent to $3.5 billion because of the peso devaluation at the end of 1994 U.S. poultry meat exports increased 29 percent to a and the subsequent economic downturn during record $2 billion. Exports to Russia jumped 96 per¬ 1995. Bulk exports declined 8 percent in 1995, but cent to $607 million, nearly one-third of all U.S. HVP exports fell more than 30 percent. poultry meat exports. Hong Kong was the second largest market at $403 million. Exports to Canada China was the sixth largest market at $2.6 billion. grew 4 percent to $169 million, but exports to Bulk exports jumped 145 percent to $2 billion, and Mexico fell 28 percent to $164 million. HVP growth was nearly as strong at 139 percent. Exports increased 21 percent to both Taiwan and Hong Kong, $2.6 billion and $1.5 billion, respec¬ Japan Again Leading Market tively. Exports to Egypt rose 66 percent to $1.4 billion because of strong bulk exports. Russia was U.S. exports expanded at a double-digit pace to the 10th leading market at $1 billion. Exports to eight of the top 10 markets, Canada and Mexico Russia rose 64 percent because of strong meat being the exceptions. Exports to Japan reached a demand. In a substantial turnaround in commodity record of nearly $11 billion, 18 percent higher than composition of exports to Russia, HVP exports in 1994. Japan was the leading market for both accounted for 90 percent of the U.S. agricultural bulk and HVP commodities, $4.5 billion and $6.5 total. (Joel Greene, Trade Analysis Branch, billion, respectively. Exports to the EU-15 grew 23 202-219-0816) percent to $8.9 billion, the highest since 3 Table 1--Agricultural, nonagricultural, and total trade balance of exports and imports Item January-December December 1994 1995 1994 1225 Million dollars Agricultural exports 45,703 55,814 5,033 5,345 Nonagricultural exports 436,942 489,801 39,197 42,449 Total exports 482,646 545,615 44,230 47,794 Agricultural imports 26,818 29,993 2,384 2,394 Nonagricultural imports 634,438 709,670 55,148 55,939 Total imports 661,256 739,663 57,531 58,333 Agricultural trade balance 18,885 25,822 2,649 2,952 Nonagricultural trade balance -197,496 -219,869 -15,951 -13,490 Total trade balance -178,610 -194,047 -13,301 -10,539 Table i2 --U.S. agricultural exports: Quantity (1,000 tons) of selected commodities, January-December 1994 and 1995, and December 1994 and 1995 January-December December Commodity grouD 1994 1995 Change 1994 1995 Change "•I. QQQ tons--- Percent -1.000 tons--- Percent Animal products 4,529 5,626 24 480 512 7 Meats and meat products 1,406 1,683 20 130 149 15 Poultry meats 1,519 2,041 34 169 219 30 Dairy products 155 179 15 20 30 50 Fats, oils, and greases 1,424 1,704 20 159 113 -29 Other animal products 1/ 25 19 -24 2 1 -50 Grains and feeds 91,496 118,838 30 10,697 9,842 -8 Wheat 30,533 32,317 6 2,834 2,688 -5 Wheat flour 1,084 1,078 -1 94 68 -28 Rice 2,983 3,275 10 406 254 -37 Feed grains 43,009 66,795 55 5,941 5,599 -6 Feeds and fodders 11,638 13,338 15 1,223 1,045 -15 Fruit and preparations 3,237 3,123 -4 244 243 -0 Nuts and preparations 517 662 28 53 59 11 Vegetables and preparations 3,083 3,123 1 286 275 -4 Oilseeds and products 26,096 32,512 25 3,838 3,162 -18 Oilcake and meal 5,372 6,404 19 602 476 -21 Soybeans 18,072 22,767 26 2,837 2,439 -14 Sunflowerseeds 157 257 64 26 23 -12 Vegetable oils 1,891 2,510 33 294 173 -41 Tobacco, unmanufactured 197 209 6 19 22 16 Cotton, excl. 1 inters 1,746 2,039 17 239 268 12 Cotton linters 83 80 -4 10 7 -30 Essential oils 16 18 13 2 1 -50 Seeds 482 538 12 51 57 12 Sugar--cane or beet 401 423 5 40 29 -28 Other 2/ 39 37 -5 4 3 -25 Total 131,922 167,228 27 15,963 14,480 -9 1/ Includes miscellaneous animal products, but excludes live animals, hides, and eggs. 2/ Includes miscellaneous vegetable products and beverage bases, but excludes fruit juices, nursery stock, and related sugar products. 4 Table 3--U.S. agricultural exports: Value by months, January 1993-December 1995 Month 1993 1994 1/ 1995 Million dollars January 3,675 3,737 4,469 February 3,818 3,481 4,819 March 3,870 3,916 5,037 January-March 11,362 11,134 14,325 Apri l 3,630 3,449 4,510 May 3,366 3,552 4,231 June 3,147 3,298 3,966 April-June 10,143 10,298 12,706 July 3,080 3,148 3,966 August 2,946 3,514 4,385 September 3,220 3,559 4,728 July-September 9,246 10,221 13,079 October 3,872 4,363 5,137 November 3,902 4,654 5,222 December 4,083 5,033 5,345 October-December 11,857 14,050 15,704 Total U 42,609 45,705 55,814 Monthly average 3,551 3,809 4,651 1/ Revised. 2/ Totals may not add due to rounding. Table 4--Leading markets for U.S. agricultural exports, January-December 1993-95 Destination 1993 1994 1995 Mil, dols. Rank Mil, dols. Rank Mil, dols. Rank Japan 8,739 1 9,268 1 10,957 1 Canada \J 5,271 2 5,504 2 5,738 2 Korea, Rep. of 1,932 5 2,330 4 3,751 3 Mexico 3,603 3 4,513 3 3,519 4 Ch i na 376 21 1,080 8 2,633 5 Taiwan 2,043 4 2,145 5 2,597 6 Netherlands 2/ 1,702 7 1,708 6 2,128 7 Hong Kong 875 10 1,233 7 1,488 8 Egypt 661 12 872 12 1,447 9 Former Soviet Union 1,758 6 1,000 10 1,346 10 Spain, incl. Canary Is. 782 11 862 13 1,270 11 Germany 1,071 8 1,052 9 1,230 12 United Kingdom 945 9 946 11 1,056 13 Indonesia 342 23 481 20 814 14 Philippines 478 18 567 15 753 15 Italy 601 13 549 16 719 16 BeIgiun-Luxembourg 2/ 481 17 500 17 648 17 Thai land 302 26 384 25 590 18 Malaysia 198 33 231 32 537 19 Turkey 382 20 267 28 536 20 France 593 14 450 21 529 21 Saudi Arabia 457 19 487 19 526 22 Brazil 196 35 488 18 488 23 Israel, incl. Gaza & W. Bank 349 22 401 23 484 24 Venezuela 489 16 401 24 477 25 1/ Adjusted for transshipments. 2/ Not adjusted for transshipments. 5 Imports Reached a Record $30 Billion in Mexico, which were up 20 percent to $1.2 billion because of increased shipments of tomatoes, 1995 cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, and onions. Large supplies due to favorable weather in Mexico, low U.S. agricultural imports increased 12 percent to a production in Florida as a result of flooding and cold, record $30 billion in calendar year 1995. Advances and the peso devaluation combined to boost U.S. were widespread with especially strong gains in imports from Mexico. rubber, coffee, and cattle. Coffee, vegetables, beverages, and grain and feeds were the leading Total beverage imports in 1995 were valued at $2.4 imports in value terms. billion, an 11-percent increase from 1994. Wine accounted for $1.2 billion of the beverage imports. Rubber was one of the fastest growing import The largest source, the EU-15, had small gains, segments in 1995, reaching $1.6 billion, compared although other countries, notably Chile and with $965 million in 1994. Total import volume was Australia, shipped more wine than in 1994. Malt down slightly from 1994, but value surged on higher beverage imports were also $1.2 billion, up 11 per¬ rubber prices due to supply shortages. Total rubber cent from 1994. The Netherlands, Mexico, and imports were over 1 million tons, and Indonesia, Canada were the major sources, accounting for 96 Thailand, and Malaysia were the leading sources, percent of 1995 malt beverage imports. accounting for 94 percent of the total. Grain and feed imports volume was steady on lower Coffee continued to be a dynamic commodity in prices. Value was $2.4 billion in 1995; $1.3 billion 1995 as value increased 31 percent to $3.3 billion came from Canada. Processed feeds, wheat, oats, and import volume gained 55,000 tons to 990,000 and barley were the major Canadian grains shipped tons. Mexico edged out Colombia as the leading to the United States. The EU-15 followed Canada in import source with shipments of 176,000 tons volume. valued at $592 million, compared with Colombia's 151,000 tons valued at $536 million. Other leading Imports of meat declined 13 percent to $2.3 billion coffee suppliers were Brazil and Guatemala. Brazil, due to large domestic supplies of beef, the primary normally the leading source, was beset by poor meat imported, and low U.S. prices. Total beef growing conditions which tightened supplies of high import value fell 20 percent to $2.5 billion. Beef quality beans. from Australia, the largest supplier, was down 36 percent from 1994 to $386 million and Canadian Vegetable oil imports gained 23 percent to $1.4 shipments fell 5 percent to $359 million. Produc¬ billion although volume was little changed from tion in Australia was curtailed by an extensive 1994. Increasing consumer demand, especially in drought. the Pacific Rim, continued to tighten vegetable oil supplies and boost world prices. Higher prices for The EU-15, with shipments of $5.9 billion, was the olive oil from the European Union (EU-15) boosted largest source for agricultural imports in 1995, ac¬ import value, even as volume declined. Rising counting for 20 percent of the $30 billion U.S. agri¬ coconut oil import volume and value from the cultural imports. At $5.6 billion, Canada accounted Philippines also contributed to import growth. for 19 percent of total import value. Shipments from Mexico of $3.8 billion netted it third place with a 13- Although coffee was the leading import commodity percent share. Indonesia ($1.4 billion) and Brazil by value, vegetables trailed by only $200 million ($1.1 billion) followed with shares of 5 and 4 with 1995 vegetable imports at $3.1 billion, 14 percent, respectively. (Tom Capehart, Trade percent higher than 1994. Most of the growth was Analysis Branch,202-219-1262) due to fresh vegetable imports from 6