OTTAWA, CANADA – Despite COVID-19 challenges, Canada remained a leading destination for U.S. agricultural exports in 2020, with high-value food and beverage exports reaching $17 billion. According to the Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS), pet food and tree nut exports were among the categories that set new record highs last year.
Reflecting the diversity of trade with Canada, U.S. exports to Canada exceeded $100 million in 43 different categories. Specifically, U.S. agricultural exports to Canada totaled over $22 billion in 2020, making the market the number two export destination for U.S. agricultural products globally, behind China. Over the last three decades, U.S. exports to Canada have grown steadily as free trade agreements eliminated nearly all tariffs on U.S. exports, improving export opportunities for U.S. producers.
Despite being the top export category fresh vegetables from the U.S. actually declined last year by 5 percent, while the number two category, fresh fruit, expanded by 6 percent. Pork products were up 6 percent, tree nuts also up 6 percent, and dairy products increased 1 percent.
One category that experienced good growth in 2020 was beef exports which increased by 11 percent. The hottest category was soybean meal which climbed over 21 percent year over year.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)