World Horticultural Trade and U.S. Export Opportunities

October 1998 Issue

U.S. Horticultural Exports for July Down 3 Percent From a Year Earlier

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 1998--U.S. exports of horticultural products to all countries in July totaled $860 million, down 3 percent from the same month a year earlier. Nine out of 15 categories registered decreases.

Categories with the most significant decreases in July were fresh non-citrus fruit (down $44.8 million or 23 percent); fresh vegetables (down $16.8 million or 16.7 percent); and miscellaneous products (down $8.5 million or 1 percent).

The categories with the most significant increases were tree nuts (up $34.6 million or 66 percent); fruit and vegetable juices (up $13.7 million or 25 percent); and wine (up $10 million or 26 percent). For FY 1998 to date (October-July), the total value of U.S. horticultural exports was $8.73 billion--1.1 percent below FY 1997, during the same time period.

Fresh fruit and essential oil export values account for most of the decline in exports to date. The value of fresh fruit to date in fiscal year (FY) 1998 is $1.56 billion, down 10 percent from the previous year. Essential oil exports are down 15 percent from a year ago, valued at $445.7 million during October-July 1997/98.

U.S. exports to Canada remain strong, valued at $2.6 billion so far in FY 1998, up nearly 8 percent from the same time period of a year ago. However, sales have slowed recently. During July, U.S. exports of horticultural products to Canada were down nearly 4 percent from the July 1997 level.

U.S. exports to the EU and Mexico remain strong, with exports to these countries up 3 percent and 18 percent, respectively, during October-July 1997/98. Exports for the month of July to both of these countries were up nearly 22 percent, from a year ago.