Record Level Exports

The Southeast Asia Inbound Fresh Retail Buying Mission wrapped up this past weekend in Seattle after meeting one on one with Washington fresh fruit and vegetable growers across the state. Rebecca Weber, WSDA International Trade Specialist reflects on the purpose of the visit.

WEBER: What we’re trying to do is create new business, but I think even in the circumstance where there already is ongoing business to have that chance to get to meet in person, talk more in person, and for the buyers to come here and really get a sense of what this years crop is going to be like, I think that really does make a difference.

Weber reports that Washington origin exports are at their highest with roughly $4.4 billion being exported in the first half of 2012.

USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber shares his analysis of why ag exports are expected to reach record levels in 2013.

GLAUBER: For FY 2013 the big difference, and one reason we’re seeing this increase in exports is because the prices are so high. And they are offsetting for many commodities actually a drop in volume - corn down 14 %, soybeans down 19 %, cotton down 7 %, the grains and oil seeds certainly reflecting the fact that we’re expecting lower production for corn, lower production for soybeans. Moving to the overall export values though, those price impacts we’re projecting are going to more than offset the volume declines. For wheat we have an increase in volume, but we also have a very big increase in price, so wheat exports for FY 2013 are projected at $12.3 billion , that’s up 35 % from 2012. Corn, we’re projecting values at $12.1 billion, that’s up 3 %. Soybeans up 4 % at $19.9 billion.

I’m Lacy Gray and that’s Washington Ag Today on the Northwest Ag Information Network.