Exports of U.S. agricultural commodities and food products reached a record $136. 3 billion in 2011, breaking the previous record set in 2010 by $20.5 billion, the Agriculture Department reports.
Grains were the biggest contributor to the 2011 total, rising $9.2 billion to $37.7 billion. The largest year-to-year increase was in cotton, where exports rose 44 percent from 2010, reaching a record $8.5 billion. Dairy and pork exports also set records in 2011, reaching $4.8 billion and $6 billion respectively.
“These figures indicate how demand for the American brand of agriculture continues to soar worldwide, supporting good jobs for Americans across a variety of industries such as transportation, renewable energy, manufacturing, food services, and on-farm employment,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
USDA reported $11.8 billion in farm exports in December, compared to imports of $8.4 billion.
