By Will Snell
U.S. ag exports remained surprising strong in 2025, despite the challenges facing many sectors (e.g., soybeans off 33% in value) and markets (e.g., China off 66% in value). While U.S. ag exports sales were down 12% last year compared to the record high level of $195.6 billion in 2022, ag exports have been relatively flat the past three years at inflation adjusted totals that historically rank in the top five annual levels.
What is noteworthy in viewing the export data is the historical change in the distribution between bulk ag exports (e.g., grains, tobacco, tobacco, cotton, rice) compared to higher-valued consumer-oriented food products (e.g., various meat products, fruits, and vegetables). During the early 1970s, bulk exports comprised 60 to 70+ percent of U.S. ag exports versus less than less than 25% today. Alternatively, consumer-oriented products have been approaching 50% of U.S. ag exports sales in recent years.
Given the host of trade barriers, and uncertain trade agreements facing many of our commodity markets, plus increasing domestic opportunities (think biofuels), more attention in the ag export space is currently being devoted to value-added export market opportunities, There are many examples of higher valued export items moving globally out of Kentucky, including food items, ethanol, bourbon, feeds/feed ingredients, seeds, plant growth materials, ag equipment, and lumber/wood products.
Many larger scale ag businesses have trade personnel and access to resources to analyze and navigate them through the challenges and opportunities of foreign markets.
Source : uky.edu