China is the largest export market for U.S. agricultural products, with over $28 billion of exports in 2017. Agricultural exports to China have steadily increased over the past few years, with a 700% increase from 2000 to 2017.
Agricultural products exported to China include soybeans, cotton, pork, corn, and wheat. Soybeans account for the single largest agricultural export, representing over 50% of China’s soybean imports in 2017 alone.
Fallout from the trade disputes have recently given other countries the opportunity to capture agricultural market share from the U.S. Agricultural producing countries including Brazil, Australia, Canada, and Ukraine, which have all been able to increase exports to China as U.S. exports have fallen. The risk to U.S. exporters is that these alternate suppliers may take permanent market share away from the U.S.
Demand for U.S. exports may also be affected by slowing global growth. The IMF is estimating a 3% growth rate for the global economy in 2019, a drop from 3.6% in 2018. Among those countries expected to see a decline in growth are China, Japan and the United States. China’s forecast is primarily due to trade tensions and a drop in exports. India continues to grow at a favorable rate among both the emerging and developed economies. Its projection of a 7% growth rate for 2020 is greater than all other major emerging and developed economies.
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Disclaimer: The information published herein is provided for informational purposes only, and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to sell or an offer to buy securities, investment products, or investment advisory services. All information, views, opinions, and estimates are subject to change or correction without notice. Nothing contained herein constitutes financial, legal, tax, or other advice. The appropriateness of an investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s circumstances and objectives. Please consult your advisor about what is best for you.