China continues to be top export market for US farmers

The fastest-growing market for United States farming exports continues to be China after a decade of a continued rise in exports from the United States to China.

Until 2011, Canada was the United States’ biggest export destination, but that year China surpassed Canada. In fiscal year 2015, China imported approximately 16 percent of United States exports for a total of $25.9 billion.

Many experts believe that, despite a recent plateau in growth in exports to China, there are many macroeconomic conditions that show there is potential growth for the long term, especially as the Chinese modify their diets to include more high-value, protein-rich foods.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture believes China’s imports will considerably increase by 2024, especially with coarse grains, soybeans, cotton, beef and pork. The United States farmers and agricultural workers are expected to be able to benefit from China’s developing economy and its change in diet to more-expensive foods. Opportunities also exist in the areas of horticultural goods, dairy, alcoholic beverages and other products within the consumer-oriented products sector.

The United States earned a record $29.6 billion dollars in exports to China in fiscal year 2014 before the slight decline in fiscal year 2015.