America is an agricultural superpower, growing far more food than it eats — and selling the surplus around the world. The U.S. exports roughly $90 billion of agricultural and livestock products a year, and a handful of countries buy most of it. This guide charts U.S. agricultural exports over the past decade and maps out who America's biggest farm customers are.
How much does the U.S. export?
The U.S. exports on the order of $90 billion of agriculture and livestock products a year — soybeans, corn, meat, dairy, nuts, and much more. The chart tracks the annual total, which has grown over the past decade but bounces around with crop prices, trade disputes, and global demand. Exports are a huge deal for American farmers: a large share of major crops like soybeans is grown specifically for overseas buyers, so what happens abroad directly shapes farm incomes at home.
Who buys America's farm goods?
Three countries dominate. China is the single largest customer, buying around $20 billion a year — above all soybeans, which feed its enormous hog herds. Mexico and Canada, America's neighbors and free-trade partners, are next, each buying over $12 billion across a wide range of products. After them come Japan and South Korea. Together, just a few markets account for the bulk of U.S. farm exports.
Why exports matter to farmers
Exports aren't a side business for American agriculture — they're central to it. Roughly a fifth of everything U.S. farms produce is exported, and for crops like soybeans, cotton, and tree nuts the export share is far higher. That makes farm prosperity unusually sensitive to global events: a strong dollar, a foreign recession, or a trade dispute can slash demand overnight, while booming overseas appetites can lift prices and incomes. When a country imposes tariffs on U.S. crops, farmers feel it fast.
China, Mexico, and trade tensions
The heavy concentration in a few buyers — especially China — is both a strength and a vulnerability. When U.S.-China trade tensions flared and China slapped tariffs on American soybeans, exports plunged and farm-belt incomes took a hit, prompting federal bailouts. Mexico and Canada, locked in by trade agreements, are steadier partners. The lesson farmers have learned repeatedly is that their fortunes are tied not just to the weather, but to diplomacy and the health of distant economies.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the U.S. export in agricultural products?
Roughly $90 billion a year in agriculture and livestock products — soybeans, corn, meat, dairy, nuts, and more. The latest figure is shown above.
Which country buys the most U.S. farm products?
China, at around $20 billion a year, above all soybeans. Mexico and Canada are next, each buying over $12 billion.
Why are agricultural exports important to farmers?
About a fifth of all U.S. farm output is exported, and far more for crops like soybeans — so global demand, trade deals, and tariffs directly shape farm incomes.
What does the U.S. export most?
Major exports include soybeans, corn, meat, dairy, and tree nuts. Soybeans in particular are grown heavily for export, especially to China.
How do trade disputes affect farmers?
When countries like China impose tariffs on U.S. crops, exports can plunge and farm incomes fall quickly — sometimes prompting federal aid to offset the losses.