The following graphic created by How Long To Cook visualizes how much food each country around the world exports (measured in U.S. dollars). Which country do you think comes out on top?
The Top Countries Exporting Food
Based on data from the World Bank, these are the top 20 countries that export the most food products based on value measured in U.S. dollars:
- United States: $89,719,182,630
- Germany: $39,143,404,740
- United Kingdom: $32,834,074,660
- China: $31,656,304,900
- Japan: $27,173,445,970
- France: $27,139,176,830
- Netherlands: $26,819,981,570
- Canada: $23,787,571,660
- Belgium: $17,693,060,460
- Italy: $15,432,784,080
- Russia: $14,634,336,170
- Spain: $14,036,227,530
- Hong Kong: $13,918,086,120
- South Korea: $12,232,819,570
- Australia: $12,151,019,570
- Switzerland: $11,450,124,540
- Vietnam: $9,933,723,380
- Poland: $9,597,517,980
- Singapore: $8,797,208,300
- Mexico: $8,556,485,110
Which country produces the most food exports? The United States! The U.S. exported more than $89 billion worth of food products in 2019. Some of the top U.S. exports are soybeans, corn, wheat, pork, poultry, and beef. The United States has a highly mechanized system of farming, which accounts for the fact that it tops the list despite having only 1% of the population employed in an agricultural profession.
Germany ranks second on the list, with more than $39 billion in food product exports. Germany is one of the top exporters of organic agricultural products in the world, and organic goods are among the country’s top food exportation products. The top countries that Germany exports food to are Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, and Italy.
The third country on the list is the United Kingdom. The U.K. exports nearly $33 billion in food products. The country’s agricultural production includes nuts, seafood, and dried fruits.
Why Do Countries Import and Export Foods?
There are many reasons why countries important and export foods. One of the biggest reasons is climate and growing conditions. Some countries, particularly those with moderate climates, have longer growing seasons and can grow more produce. Supply and demand also play an important role in food exportation. If a country can’t supply popular foods itself, it’s more likely to import them from other countries. Countries encourage exportation of food because it helps provide jobs and increases revenue for people in the country.
Countries That Export the Most Food Products
Country
Food Export Value
United States
$89,719,182,630
Germany
$39,143,404,740
United Kingdom
$32,834,074,660
China
$31,656,304,900
Japan
$27,173,445,970
France
$27,139,176,830
Netherlands
$26,819,981,570
Canada
$23,787,571,660
Belgium
$17,693,060,460
Italy
$15,432,784,080
Russia
$14,634,336,170
Spain
$14,036,227,530
Hong Kong
$13,918,086,120
South Korea
$12,232,819,570
Australia
$12,151,019,570
Switzerland
$11,450,124,540
Vietnam
$9,933,723,380
Poland
$9,597,517,980
Singapore
$8,797,208,300
Mexico
$8,556,485,110
$7,931,076,900
Norway
$7,476,625,220
Indonesia
$7,366,671,050
$7,188,246,250
Malaysia
$6,996,672,870
Philippines
$6,749,972,380
Other Asia (Not Elsewhere Specified)
$6,655,592,720
Thailand
$6,543,835,000
Sweden
$6,535,218,070
Austria
$6,268,032,020
Turkey
$5,925,075,990
Denmark
$5,822,292,310
Ireland
$5,732,074,680
Czechia
$4,713,161,130
Iraq
$4,700,236,220
$4,662,596,760
Brazil
$4,199,421,860
Ukraine
$4,110,442,110
Romania
$4,041,647,420
Israel
$3,887,013,380
Portugal
$3,844,956,320
Chile
$3,356,401,340
Hungary
$3,328,488,960
Finland
$3,004,411,390
Greece
$2,999,724,740
Colombia
$2,926,295,070
India
$2,918,894,340
New Zealand
$2,898,067,330
Algeria
$2,666,630,560
Iran
$2,644,116,120
Nigeria
$2,628,213,520
Slovakia
$2,627,161,530
Serbia
$2,511,136,220
Cambodia
$2,443,904,310
Egypt
$2,406,395,000
Morocco
$2,099,741,870
Unspecified
$2,066,841,660
Kazakhstan
$2,025,040,930
Panama
$2,003,684,900
Libya
$1,997,390,490
Latvia
$1,990,928,970
Myanmar
$1,941,275,840
Peru
$1,934,772,350
Kuwait
$1,867,170,070
Bulgaria
$1,855,517,540
Oman
$1,797,303,890
Croatia
$1,791,875,600
Dominican Republic
$1,756,121,950
Bunkers
$1,750,964,560
Lithuania
$1,646,014,720
Bangladesh
$1,595,951,650
Belarus
$1,572,128,860
Jordan
$1,558,603,030
Guatemala
$1,507,064,690
Slovenia
$1,496,138,770
Lebanon
$1,461,495,510
Luxembourg
$1,451,907,660
Ecuador
$1,417,558,900
Yemen
$1,413,207,820
Bosnia and Herzegovina
$1,352,714,610
Estonia
$1,323,218,330
Qatar
$1,143,868,070
Macao
$1,107,454,260
Ghana
$1,099,559,590
Cote d’Ivoire
$1,090,194,330
Honduras
$1,070,512,540
Syria
$1,032,114,360
Somalia
$1,013,094,090
Senegal
$996,486,560
Argentina
$941,357,510
Cyprus
$940,563,040
Angola
$935,362,270
Kenya
$859,423,930
$851,264,370
El Salvador
$846,443,660
Afghanistan
$843,155,600
Paraguay
$815,110,040
$795,190,850
Uruguay
$794,723,250
Sudan
$779,876,480
Pakistan
$779,116,020
Albania
$751,641,830
Georgia
$736,396,450
Bahrain
$733,921,450
Iceland
$732,058,900
Cuba
$682,271,720
Democratic Republic of the Congo
$657,785,600
Laos
$649,789,010
North Macedonia
$636,460,640
Venezuela
$619,811,060
Azerbaijan
$618,612,460
Mozambique
$572,199,030
Nicaragua
$564,015,500
Uzbekistan
$550,898,010
Guinea
$527,639,330
Togo
$524,197,950
Malta
$515,716,800
Mali
$513,244,290
Tunisia
$512,164,110
Namibia
$509,607,880
Jamaica
$503,220,810
Cameroon
$493,178,350
Botswana
$483,386,730
Montenegro
$471,553,510
Mauritius
$468,943,380
Trinidad and Tobago
$458,916,230
Bolivia
$441,938,930
Mongolia
$439,969,630
Andorra
$436,488,520
Moldova
$421,575,380
Kyrgyzstan
$415,678,410
Mauritania
$400,253,480
Benin
$386,434,000
Burkina Faso
$382,451,670
Armenia
$364,932,170
Tanzania
$355,660,430
Papua New Guinea
$350,460,750
Nepal
$349,940,110
New Caledonia
$348,710,450
Special Categories
$341,130,780
Gabon
$302,213,090
Djibouti
$290,107,260
French Polynesia
$286,287,260
Republic of the Congo
$285,867,590
Palestinian Territories
$274,645,470
Gambia
$266,339,990
Uganda
$263,860,850
Ethiopia
$258,070,800
North Korea
$257,761,940
Bahamas
$254,029,250
Haiti
$246,138,980
Zambia
$244,725,890
Madagascar
$243,287,520
Brunei
$243,012,210
Niger
$242,965,870
Tajikistan
$237,700,470
Equatorial Guinea
$234,022,370
Suriname
$232,641,460
Gibraltar
$214,350,760
Curaçao
$211,626,790
Greenland
$210,175,670
Aruba
$200,155,450
Maldives
$199,297,500
Faeroe Islands
$194,415,100
Turkmenistan
$186,435,910
Lesotho
$181,057,060
Sierra Leone
$175,920,140
Eswatini
$172,137,870
Cape Verde
$172,099,230
Zimbabwe
$163,054,970
Belize
$141,571,500
Barbados
$141,099,700
Fiji
$136,953,600
Malawi
$121,729,270
Sint Maarten
$115,900,680
Chad
$113,643,650
Guyana
$111,499,210
Liberia
$104,961,000
Bermuda
$102,400,030
Seychelles
$100,875,770
Guinea-Bissau
$99,551,800
Cayman Islands
$96,716,940
Rwanda
$93,386,000
South Sudan
$91,821,050
East Timor
$85,923,090
Guam
$58,343,670
St. Lucia
$51,936,410
Antigua and Barbuda
$51,102,450
Burundi
$44,415,380
Samoa
$42,243,790
Vanuatu
$42,233,930
Bhutan
$40,957,990
Comoros
$39,756,660
Solomon Islands
$38,253,530
Central African Republic
$37,515,630
Turks and Caicos
$37,294,240
Sao Tome and Principe
$36,951,950
British Virgin Islands
$36,627,020
Free Zones
$32,481,270
Grenada
$31,096,470
Bonaire
$30,895,130
Eritrea
$29,079,560
Micronesia
$27,288,520
Saint Barthélemy
$25,718,920
Cook Islands
$24,674,180
Tonga
$24,090,700
San Marino
$23,911,930
Dominica
$23,185,740
St. Kitts and Nevis
$23,148,950
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
$21,121,690
Marshall Islands
$20,902,280
Kiribati
$19,840,220
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$16,203,210
Falkland Island
$15,384,170
Wallis and Futuna
$14,618,130
Anguilla
$14,100,990
Northern Mariana Islands
$13,282,590
American Samoa
$11,919,400
Palau
$9,956,900
Saint Helena
$8,073,120
Nauru
$5,719,930
Holy See
$4,608,850
Tuvalu
$3,162,030
Niue
$2,434,500
Norfolk Island
$2,291,870
Montserrat
$1,911,370
United States Minor Outlying Islands
$1,246,210
Antarctica
$1,242,200
Christmas Island
$1,155,330
Tokelau
$954,650
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
$942,480
Pitcairn
$419,780
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
$136,080
British Indian Ocean Territory
$67,310
Bouvet Island
$11,230
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
$6,480
Western Sahara
$5,540
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
$2,460
- Free zones are types of special economic zones that are determined by the commerce groups of various countries. Companies in these areas are taxed lightly to encourage economic activity.
- United States Minor Outlying Islands consist of Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Atoll, Palmyra Atoll, Wake Island, and Navassa Island.
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By HowLongToCook.org
