Food drives the world; apart from clean water, access to adequate food is the primary concern for most people on earth. This makes agriculture one of the largest and most significant industries in the world; agricultural productivity is important not only for a country's balance of trade but the security and health of its population as well. Show With that in mind, which countries produce the most agricultural products, which countries export the most, and what are countries around the world doing to increase their production levels? Key Takeaways
Top ProducersThere are numerous ways of assessing agricultural output, including sheer tonnage and the dollar volume of the commodities produced. It's important to look at both, as it is often the case that commodities critical to the food supply of less-developed countries don't show up as high dollar-value crops. Of the major cereal and vegetable crops, the United States, China, India, and Russia frequently appear as top producers. It probably won't surprise readers that China is the leading worldwide producer of rice, but it's also the leading producer of wheat and the number two producer of corn, as well as the largest producer of many vegetables including onions and cabbage. In terms of total production, the United States is fourth in wheat and first in corn, and second in soybeans. There are other important crops, however. Millet is a major crop in much of Africa and Asia, and India and Nigeria are the leading producers. Likewise, barley, rye, and beans/pulses are not that important within the United States but are crucial crops in countries like Russia, Germany, and India. Top ExportersIt should not be too surprising that countries like China and India feature prominently on the lists of top agricultural producers; these countries have large populations and internal food security (that is, producing enough to feed a nation's population from internal resources) is a major priority. A great deal of this production is used internally, though, and the list of the top exporting countries looks much different. Country Exports (in billions) United States $118.3 Netherlands $79 Germany $70.8 France $68 Brazil $55.4 Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Here, again, it is important to note the difference between volume production and high-value production. The Netherlands is a tiny country; its presence on the list is due to the high value of flowers and live plants (the Netherlands supplies nearly half of the global total) and vegetables (the Netherlands is a leading supplier of tomatoes and chilies). When it comes to the staples that feed the world (rice, corn, wheat, beans, lentils, and animal proteins), countries like the United States, Germany, Canada, Brazil, and Thailand feature more prominently. Commodity Leading country % of Global Exports Corn United States 26% ($7.6 billion) Fish China 9.2% ($6.6 billion) Palm Oil Indonesia 51% ($10.4 billion) Rice Thailand 34.5% ($6 billion) Soybeans United States 50.5% ($16.5 billion) Wheat United States 18% ($5.4 billion) Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. How Will the World Make More?Almost every country wants to increase its agricultural productivity, but how they intend to go about that varies greatly with the country or region in question. In countries like the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, there is very little land allowed to go to waste, and infrastructure like roads are well-developed. Likewise, irrigation is widespread, and farmers use fertilizer extensively. This has led many countries and farmers to turn to genetically modified seeds to increase yields and reduce the need for costly (and potentially polluting) fertilizer and herbicides. The picture is much different in Africa and much of South Asia. In these areas, infrastructure is extremely under-developed and simply getting crops to market (or inputs like fertilizer to the farms) can be a struggle. Likewise, irrigation infrastructure is lacking, leaving farmers much more exposed to the variability of weather. Not surprisingly, then, a large focus of governments in these countries is to try to build roads, improve access to water and encourage the use of inputs, like fertilizer. The Bottom LineAlthough agriculture is no longer a major employer in North America or Europe, and food security is not a preeminent problem for most citizens, it is still a globally vital industry. As investors saw a few years ago, bad weather and low inventories quickly led the prices of many food commodities to soar and led to riots and political disturbances in many countries. On a more positive note, it's a major source of export earnings for countries across the development spectrum. Given the importance of agriculture and the importance of increasing yields, companies that facilitate higher production should find their products in increasing demand. Whether it's agricultural equipment like tractors, inputs like fertilizer and herbicide, or higher-yielding modified seeds, companies serving the global agriculture market have a large and still under-served market to address. Who is the largest exporter of agriculture in the world?While the U.S. is the top exporter of agricultural commodities, other countries including China, India, and Brazil have emerged as major food suppliers. What are the top 5 exports of Indonesia?Indonesia's most important export commodities are oil and gas, minerals, crude palm oil, electrical appliances and rubber products. What are the top 5 agriculture exports?The leading U.S. agricultural exports are grains and feeds, soybeans, livestock products, tree nuts, fruits, vegetables, and other horticultural products. The leading U.S. imports are horticultural and tropical products. What is the main agricultural export of Indonesia?The country's top export products are palm oil, cocoa, coffee, rice, spices, tea, coconuts, fruit and tobacco. |
