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China is number one U.S. ag customer

Exports of U.S. agriculture products hit an all-time high in 2010. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says it’s because U.S. producers are the best on Earth, resulting in high demand for U.S. products, especially on the far side of the Pacific.

“China became our number one market, surpassing Canada,” said Vilsack, in an interview provided by the USDA. “Ag exports to China were over $17.5 billion in the calendar year; that’s up from $13.1 billion in calendar year 2009, a 34 percent increase.”

Canada’s imports of U.S. agriculture products jumped seven percent, but that wasn’t enough to keep it our number one customer. Canada slipped to number two on the list of importers of U.S. agriculture products.

“Mexico is now our third largest market with exports of about $14.6 billion, which is up 13 percent,” said Vilsack.

Even though commodity prices are high for grain, soybeans and cotton, Vilsack says what is happening is continued recovery in the global economy. Vilsack says agriculture holds the largest trade surplus of any U.S. export sector – $34 billion.

With the economy improving and the U.S. dollar weak, U.S. goods are a smart buy for foreign customers, causing Secretary Vilsack to make an encouraging prediction.

“We’re going to have as good or better year in 2011.”

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