| United States Department of Agriculture |
| Foreign Agricultural Service |
| Circular Series FHORT 04-99 |
| April 1999 |
Trade and U.S. Export
Opportunities
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World
Horticultural Trade and U.S. Export Opportunities |
U.S. exports of horticultural products in fiscal year (FY) 1999 to date (October-January) are valued at $3.5 billion, down slightly more than 1 percent from the same time period a year ago. Reduced sales of tree nuts and fresh citrus account for the decline. The value of tree nut exports to date in FY 1999 totaled $502.1 million, down 9 percent from the previous year. Fresh citrus exports (all oranges) are down 12 percent from a year ago, valued at $185.8 million during October-January 1998/99.
Japan’s economic recession; the strong U.S. dollar; and the weakness in other Asian markets are continuing to hamper U.S. exports. Lower exports to Asia are being partially offset by expanded sales to the rest of the world. Exports to date to Asian markets are down 7 percent or $74.2 million. However, exports to date to Japan are showing some recovery, after 3 straight years of declines, as sales to date are valued at $529.8 million, up 1 percent from a year ago. Exports to other Asian markets, though, are down 14 percent or $79.4 million. Reduced sales to Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Korea and Hong Kong account for this decrease. Sales to the rest of the world to date are up 1 percent or $23.8 million. Mexico leads the export gains to the rest of the world, with U.S. sales to date to that country up 23 percent or $42.5 million. Exports are also up to the European Union, the second largest U.S. market, and are recovering to Brazil. Canada, the largest U.S. market, has slowed it’s growth this year, as sales to date are up only marginally.
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