Agricultural Trade

The U.S. agricultural trade balance was positive for nearly 60 years until 2019, when the balance began shifting to a deficit. By 2025, U.S. agricultural imports grew to exceed exports by $41 billion. U.S. agricultural exports grew at a compound annual growth rate of 2.3 percent between 2015 and 2025—with growing global competition, a strong dollar, and trade barriers all posing headwinds to export growth. In comparison, U.S. agricultural imports have largely followed a more stable upward trend, growing at a rate of 5.8 percent between 2015 and 2025. U.S. agricultural imports have been driven by: a strong U.S. economy, the strength of the dollar, and a robust and increasingly diverse appetite of the U.S. consumer. Much of the U.S. agricultural import growth has come from high-valued imported goods—such as fruits and vegetables, alcoholic beverages, and processed food products. Those goods often include products that can’t be easily or economically produced in the United States (such as tropical products or off-season produce), as well as labor-intensive products that can be comparatively more cost effective to produce in other countries. In 2025, U.S. agricultural imports fell slightly, slowing in the second half of the year, partially in response to new tariff policies. 

U.S. agricultural export values, not adjusted for inflation, peaked in 2022 and declined to 171 billion in 2025. This decline was due to falling global commodity prices, a strong dollar, and shifting demand for some commodities (such as corn and soybeans). Four categories typically make up about 90 percent of exports: grains and feeds, oilseeds and products, livestock and animal products, and horticultural products. Within these categories, the top 10 U.S. agricultural exports in 2025 were corn, soybeans, tree nuts, dairy products, beef and beef products, vegetables, fruits, poultry meat and products, pork and pork products, and wheat. While exports of soybeans fell in 2025, corn, tree nuts and dairy products exports grew relative to the previous year. 

The value of U.S. agricultural imports fell slightly from the 2024 record of $213 billion to $212 billion in 2025. The reduction was partially attributable to the implementation of new tariffs in 2025. Over the last decade, at least half the growth has been associated with horticultural products—a category including high-value products such as fruits, vegetables, alcoholic beverages, essential oils, tree nuts, and nursery stock. In 2025, imports of horticultural products fell 8 percent, largely on decreased value and volume of imports of alcoholic beverages, essential oils and vegetables. Import values of tropical products (especially cocoa and coffee) rose with global prices—while beef imports (up 24 percent in 2025, from countries such as Australia) helped ease tight domestic supplies. Growth in high-value agricultural imports has been driven by demand for year-round supply, changing consumer preferences, and a strong exchange rate. 

The United States exported $171 billion in agricultural goods in 2025, with 56 percent going to the top 5 markets (Mexico, Canada, the European Union, Japan and South Korea)—a decline from 62 percent in 2024. U.S. agricultural exports to Mexico, the largest U.S. agricultural trading partner, grew 1 percent in 2025. Top exports to Mexico included corn, dairy products, pork and pork products, soybeans, and poultry meat and products. Exports to Canada, the second largest export market, fell 4 percent to $28.2 billion. Top U.S. exports to Canada included bakery goods, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, ethanol, and food preparations. In 2025, China fell from the list of the top 5 export markets to sixth place, with exports falling 66 percent from 2024 to $8.4 billion. This reduction was associated with reciprocal tariffs and lowered demand for U.S. soybeans. U.S. agricultural exports to the European Union reached a record $14.5 billion in 2025, a 13-percent increase from the previous year, led by strong corn and tree nut sales.

The top three sources of agricultural imports to the United States are Mexico, Canada, and the European Union, accounting for almost 58 percent of all agricultural sales to the United States between 2021–25. The first and second largest suppliers are Mexico and Canada, averaging $43.8 billion and $37.8 billion annually in 2021–25, respectively. Mexico supplied roughly one third of U.S. horticultural product imports—including fruit, vegetables, and alcoholic beverages. Canada is a large supplier of processed food products (baked goods), meat, vegetable oils, and vegetables. The third largest source is the European Union, averaging $34.0 billion in 2021–25—with high-value products such as wine, spirits, and essential oils accounting for most of the value. South America (led by Brazil, Colombia, and Peru) averaged $23.3 billion in U.S. agricultural imports from 2021–25—mostly in horticultural, and sugar and tropical products that have comparative or seasonal advantages.

Between 2021–25, 62 percent of U.S. agricultural exports went to markets in North America and East Asia. The share of U.S. agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico has been growing to account for 32 percent of total exports in 2021–25. East Asia (led by China, Japan, and South Korea) was the second largest market, with a collective 30 percent share. The top three commodity groups exported to East Asia included oilseeds, grains, and meats. The third largest regional destination is Southeast Asia (led by the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia), followed closely by the European Union.

The product composition of U.S. agricultural exports has shifted over the last 35 years, reflecting changes in global supply and demand. Notably, agricultural exports of high-value products (such as meats, food preparations and dairy) showed strong growth, driven by increasing population and income worldwide, as well as a growing diversification of diets. In 2025, high-value product exports grew to $121 billion, or 71 percent of total U.S. agricultural export value, up from 56 percent in 1990. Approximately 60 percent of these high-value product exports were processed goods (with the largest including meat, food preparations, milk, baked goods and beverages). These processed exports were the fastest growing group, increasing by an average of 4.7 percent per year between 2001 and 2025. Semi-processed goods (such as prepared feeds, and soybean meal) have maintained a relatively stable share of total exports since 1990, at 13 percent in 2025. The share of high-value raw exports has been expanding since 1990 (largely driven by increased exports of tree nuts, especially almonds and pistachios). In contrast to high-value products, the share of exports of bulk goods (such as grains and oilseeds) has gradually declined over the last 35 years to 29 percent, or $50 billion in 2025. 

Growth in U.S. agricultural imports over the last 25 years has been propelled by a growing domestic demand for an array of high-value and consumer-oriented products. In 2025 these products made up 98 percent of the value of U.S. agricultural imports and have grown, on average, by 6.4 percent annually since 2001. The majority of these high-value products are processed products such as non-alcoholic beverages and bakery goods, both of which have grown significantly since 2001. In total, processed goods totaled $136 billion in 2025, comprising 64 percent of all agricultural imports. Semi-processed goods such as vegetable oils and meals comprised 13 percent of all agricultural imports in 2025. This number has grown in recent years, as vegetable oil imports have helped supply domestic biofuel demand. Raw high-value product imports were $45 billion or 21 percent of agricultural imports in 2025, with growth over the last 25 years coming largely from fresh fruits (such as berries and avocados). The share of imports in bulk commodities (such as grains, oilseeds, cotton, and tobacco) declined from 6 percent in the 1990s to 2 percent in 2025.