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USDA: AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS CONTRIBUTED $362.4 BILLION TO U.S. ECONOMY
Dec. 23, 2025
Source: USDA news release
Washington, DC -- U.S. farm and food product exports create value and generate economic activity within and outside of the agricultural sector. In general, increased exports of agricultural products lead to higher demand for transportation services, packaging materials, or financial services across the supply chain, with additional employment services and economic activities required for exports. USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS) estimates the additional value of economic activity generated annually by agricultural exports using an agricultural trade multiplier model.
This model measures the employment and output effects of trade in farm and food products on the U.S. economy. In 2023, the value of U.S. agricultural exports, comprising commodities and food products, reached $175.5 billion. In turn, these exports generated an additional $186.9 billion in economic activity. Exports of bulk, unprocessed commodities such as soybeans and corn--valued at $74.2 billion--generated an additional $66.2 billion in economic activity in 2023.
Nonbulk exports--a broad category of intermediate commodities and consumer-ready products such as soybean meal, ethanol, meats, almonds, and distilled spirits--require additional processing or special handling, adding substantial value beyond the value of the product. Nonbulk exports valued at $101.3 billion in 2023 generated an additional $120.7 billion for the U.S. economy.
Including the value of exports themselves, U.S. agricultural exports generated a total economic output of $362.4 billion in 2023. Put another way, every $1 of U.S. agricultural product exported generated a total of $2.06 of domestic economic activity, on average.
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