2020/2021 Marketing Year Ranks As Best Export Year Of All Time

U.S. exports of grains in all forms (GIAF) reached an all-time high during the 2020/2021 marketing year. Recovering from a two-year period of decline, exports rose by 28.3 percent, totaling 129.5 million metric tons (MMT), or 5.2 billion bushels, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and analysis by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC).

To track GIAF exports, the Council reviews exports across 10 product sectors, including U.S. corn, barley and sorghum and value-added products including ethanol, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and other co-products, as well as the corn equivalent of exported meat products.

“Reaching an all-time high record for exports of grains in all forms while we continue to deal with a global pandemic shows the commitment of USGC members to continue to expand exports of grains in all forms as well as the dedication from USGC’s global staff to develop markets and increase market access for grains in all forms,” said Cary Sifferath, USGC senior director of global programs.

U.S. corn exports rose by 55 percent in 2020/2021 from the previous marketing year, totaling 69.8 MMT (2.7 billion bushels). China soared to record highs for U.S. corn imports, totaling over 21.4 MMT (845.2 million bushels) compared to 11.2 MMT (439.5 million bushels) in the previous marketing year. Notably, corn exports to South Korea rose 36 percent from the previous marketing year to 3.8 MMT (141.1 bushel), making it the fifth-largest market. Mexico experienced its third-largest year on record for corn exports at 15.5 MMT (631.8 bushels) in 2020/2021.

Another year of big sorghum sales to China helped offset losses from Mexico, Sudan and Japan, for a nearly 40 percent increase in overall U.S. sorghum exports year-over-year at 7.18 MMT (283 million bushels). China maintained its status as the top market, with imports doubling from last year for a total of 6.78 MMT (267.2 million bushels). Afghanistan imported U.S. sorghum for the first time on record, totaling 34,800 MT (1.3 million bushels), while Kenya and Cameroon saw substantial increases.