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General Trade Summary
U.S. planting seed exports during the July-May period totaled
1,128,129 metric tons valued at $857.6 million, increases of 84
and 29 percent, respectively, over the same period last year.
Imports for the period reached 216,875 tons valued at $334.9
million.
Two seedkinds, field corn and soybean seed, exceeded the $100
million level in exports and continue to dominate the planting
seed export trade.
Mexico continued as the best export market for planting seeds, having reached 391,765 tons and $193.5 million, up 91 and 49 percent, respectively, from a year earlier. Two other export markets, Canada and Japan reached the $100-million level in May: Canada at $103.6 million and Japan at $100.8 million. Italy, at $94.2 million could still reach the same level. With one month left to go in the marketing year, export values have already reached new levels for all four countries.
Canada led suppliers of planting seeds to the United States,
shipping 132,250 tons, valued at $92.9 million, increases of 3
and 17 percent, respectively. Although down from the nearly 40
percent market share enjoyed by Canada less than 10 years ago, it
still has a comfortable margin over the next largest supplier,
Chile.
The following paragraphs are excerpts from U.S. Agricultural
Attache reports recently received in FAS in Washington. Copies of
the complete reports may be obtained by contacting the Cotton,
Oilseeds, Tobacco and Seeds Division at the address, telephone or
Fax number listed on the back cover.
Japan (Report number JA7035):
Japan's own agricultural sector, as a market for planting seeds,
continued to remain limited in scope and constrained by an
increasing influx of farm products from abroad. The problem is
compounded by the declining farm population, increasing age of
active farmers, lack of economic incentives to attract young farm
successors and stagnation in agricultural production.
Following a consistent trend, Japanese seed production fell 6
percent to 1,370 tons in 1996 while planted area declined 7
percent to 1,420 hectares. Since 1988, important statistical
markers for planting seeds have all declined: planted area for
seeds by 47 percent, seed production by 44 percent, and the
number of seed farmers by 52 percent. Ordinarily, the outlook for
U.S. planting seed exports would be optimistic. However, the E.
coli O:157 outbreak attributed to Daikon radish sprouts grown
from U.S. seed has put a damper on the short-term prospects.
Spain (Report number SP7037): The
demand for U.S. planting seed in the next few years should remain
at about last year's level. Demand for field crop seeds, pulse
and forage and pasture seeds should remain stable as most of
these crops are contingent upon acreage quotas. Demand for U.S.
vegetable seeds, however, is likely to continue to grow,
reflecting the expected expansion in produce production.
Increased marketing opportunities are being created for U.S.
vegetable seeds, especially tomato, pepper, lettuce, melon and
watermelon. Spain's competitive position within the EU is leading
to growing exports of these products for the rest of the EU.
Trials for variety approval are conducted in the autonomous regions, who must inform the central government, which may modify the trial program or request additional information. The results are reviewed by the National Biosafety Committee, which reports to the Minister of Agriculture or to a newly created inter-ministerial committee for national approval, before sending it to Brussels for EU approval. Several biotechnology products are currently going through the approval process including two BT corn, one BT cotton, and two Roundup Ready soybean varieties. The BT corn varieties are currently pending the Agriculture Minister's decision. The Agriculture Minister has withheld her signature so far citing the need for caution and solidarity with other EU countries. The BT cotton varieties are currently under review by the inter-ministerial committee. The two Roundup Ready soybean varieties are undergoing trials in the Estremadura region.
U.S. Planting Seed Export Highlights |
||||||
July-June Marketing Year 1996/97 Compared to 1995/96 |
||||||
| July-May | 1995/96 |
1996/97 |
Change |
1995/96 |
1996/97 |
Change |
Metric Tons |
$1,000 |
|||||
| ALL SEEDS | 613,833 |
1,128,129 |
83.8% |
665,937 |
857,577 |
28.8% |
| BY KIND | ||||||
Grasses |
43,428 |
54,347 |
25.1% |
54,146 |
68,770 |
27.0% |
| Tall Fescue | 4,887 |
9,359 |
91.5% |
6,276 |
9,700 |
54.6% |
| Annual Ryegrass | 10,372 |
11,588 |
11.7% |
8,271 |
8,785 |
6.2% |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 5,788 |
6,750 |
16.6% |
7,312 |
8,684 |
18.8% |
| Sorghum-sudan Crosses | 5,211 |
6,974 |
33.8% |
6,785 |
8,479 |
25.0% |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2,210 |
3,570 |
61.5% | 5,751 |
7,313 |
27.2% |
| Bentgrass | 1,267 |
1,669 |
31.7% |
4,111 |
5,547 |
34.9% |
Other Forages |
22,946 |
29,650 |
29.2% |
59,039 |
79,707 |
35.0% |
| Certified Alfalfa | 9,185 |
13,591 |
48.0% |
31,350 |
46,663 |
48.8% |
| Uncertified Alfalfa | 2,497 |
3,719 |
48.9% |
6,506 |
9,649 |
48.3% |
| Red Clover | 939 |
1,116 |
18.8% |
2,181 |
2,707 |
24.1% |
| White & Ladino Clover | 438 |
422 |
-3.7% |
1,293 |
1,291 |
-0.2% |
| Crimson Clover | 636 |
981 |
54.2% |
974 |
1,210 |
24.2% |
Pulses |
47,414 |
53,214 |
12.2% |
39,892 |
48,074 |
20.5% |
| Pea | 21,489 |
18,978 |
-11.7% |
15,987 |
13,992 |
-12.5% |
| Other Kidney Bean | 3,548 |
6,358 |
79.2% |
3,595 |
7,156 |
99.1% |
| Gram Bean | 3,923 |
3,684 |
-6.1% |
4,236 |
4,792 |
13.1% |
| Navy Bean | 4,065 |
4,993 |
22.8% |
2,863 |
3,588 |
25.3% |
Vegetables |
35,035 |
42,657 |
21.8% |
181,991 |
209,428 |
15.1% |
| Sweet Corn | 8,143 |
17,669 |
117.0% |
22,223 |
60,555 |
172.5% |
| Tomato | 1,147 |
1,353 |
18.0% |
20,293 |
21,165 |
4.3% |
| Onion | 1,637 |
962 |
-41.2% |
16,029 |
12,513 |
-21.9% |
| Mushroom Spawn | 5,510 |
4,924 |
-10.6% |
12,694 |
10,878 |
-14.3% |
| Pepper | 1,559 |
1,844 |
18.3% |
8,757 |
9,853 |
12.5% |
| Cucumber | 1,033 |
997 |
-3.5% |
9,612 |
9,243 |
-3.8% |
| Squash | 1,193 |
1,390 |
16.5% |
7,664 |
8,990 |
17.3% |
| Watermelon | 1,234 |
1,082 |
-12.3% |
8,995 |
8,447 |
-6.1% |
| Carrot | 1,737 |
1,391 |
-19.9% |
7,776 |
5,610 |
-27.9% |
| Cantaloupe | 1,105 |
907 |
-17.9% |
5,555 |
5,294 |
-4.7% |
Field Crops |
460,159 |
944,271 |
105.2% |
286,099 |
397,650 |
39.0% |
| Field Corn | 81,758 |
78,403 |
-4.1% |
139,563 |
141,671 |
1.5% |
| Soybean | 159,261 |
367,522 |
130.8% |
58,609 |
128,865 |
119.9% |
| Non-durum Wheat | 89,564 |
403,959 |
351.0% |
14,643 |
73,503 |
402.0% |
| Grain Sorghum | 51,561 |
56,818 |
10.2% |
14,274 |
17,340 |
21.5% |
| Cotton | 17,494 |
14,370 |
-17.9% |
24,450 |
15,356 |
-37.2% |
| Other Sunflower | 12,837 |
9,760 |
-24.0% |
14,848 |
12,416 |
-16.4% |
Miscellaneous Kinds |
4,851 |
3,990 |
-17.7% |
44,771 |
53,947 |
20.5% |
| Flower | 240 |
353 |
47.1% |
27,409 |
34,045 |
24.2% |
| Tree and Shrub | 169 |
112 |
-33.7% |
3,081 |
3,368 |
9.3% |
| Sugar Beet | 572 |
443 |
-22.6% |
2,652 |
2,277 |
-14.1% |
| Tobacco | 1 |
2 |
100.0% |
617 |
1,107 |
79.4% |
| BY REGION | ||||||
North America |
280,926 |
540,347 |
92.3% |
219,216 |
297,044 |
35.5% |
European Union |
133,903 |
133,313 |
-0.4% |
216,976 |
252,139 |
16.2% |
Other Asia 1/ |
113,971 |
276,483 |
142.6% |
82,512 |
119,998 |
45.4% |
| BY COUNTRY | ||||||
Mexico |
205,180 |
391,765 |
90.9% |
129,560 |
193,458 |
49.3% |
Canada |
75,747 |
148,582 |
96.2% |
89,656 |
103,586 |
15.5% |
Japan |
51,602 |
266,091 |
415.7% |
57,657 |
100,849 |
74.9% |
Italy |
39,662 |
47,446 |
19.6% |
78,169 |
94,203 |
20.5% |
Argentina |
12,805 |
24,199 |
89.0% |
30,136 |
54,039 |
79.3% |
Netherlands |
28,494 |
15,759 |
-44.7% |
33,468 |
35,161 |
5.1% |
France |
13,504 |
16,545 |
22.5% |
27,370 |
30,861 |
12.8% |
Greece |
12,191 |
11,351 |
-6.9% |
23,268 |
27,128 |
16.6% |
Spain |
21,599 |
13,212 |
-38.8% |
20,878 |
19,934 |
-4.5% |
United Kingdom |
6,294 |
14,118 |
124.3% |
11,358 |
18,179 |
60.1% |
Saudi Arabia |
2,875 |
6,547 |
127.7% |
8,696 |
15,773 |
81.4% |
Germany |
6,838 |
6,418 |
-6.1% |
10,385 |
11,559 |
11.3% |
Australia |
5,161 |
4,714 |
-8.7% |
9,201 |
10,518 |
14.3% |
Egypt |
1,191 |
29,415 |
2369.8% |
4,789 |
9,003 |
88.0% |
South Korea |
6,422 |
5,680 |
-11.6% |
9,684 |
8,517 |
-12.1% |
Chile |
2,204 |
3,302 |
49.8% |
5,849 |
8,047 |
37.6% |
Turkey |
1,856 |
4,266 |
129.8% |
5,029 |
7,946 |
58.0% |
Brazil |
1,043 |
3,688 |
253.6% |
6,249 |
7,785 |
24.6% |
Philippines |
937 |
39,800 |
4147.6% |
2,406 |
7,690 |
219.6% |
Ecuador |
675 |
20,528 |
2941.2% |
1,595 |
6,261 |
292.5% |
South Africa |
869 |
2,490 |
186.5% |
3,219 |
6,191 |
92.3% |
Portugal |
1,228 |
1,970 |
60.4% |
4,035 |
5,872 |
45.5% |
China |
53,913 |
2,463 |
-95.4% |
10,415 |
5,511 |
-47.1% |
Colombia |
6,041 |
1,803 |
-70.2% |
4,876 |
4,323 |
-11.3% |
Peru |
1,334 |
2,381 |
78.5% |
2,529 |
3,153 |
24.7% |
Austria |
1,078 |
1,369 |
27.0% |
3,267 |
2,814 |
-13.9% |
Hong Kong |
995 |
1,320 |
32.7% |
2,383 |
2,749 |
15.4% |
Venezuela |
806 |
519 |
-35.6% |
3,675 |
2,736 |
-25.6% |
Belgium |
591 |
2,400 |
306.1% |
644 |
2,459 |
281.8% |
United Arab Emirates |
538 |
244 |
-54.6% |
5,216 |
2,458 |
-52.9% |
Israel |
1,682 |
612 |
-63.6% |
3,290 |
2,436 |
-26.0% |
Taiwan |
1,033 |
928 |
-10.2% |
2,326 |
2,372 |
2.0% |
Pakistan |
1,541 |
1,148 |
-25.5% |
3,029 |
2,312 |
-23.7% |
Syria |
454 |
975 |
114.8% |
2,995 |
2,209 |
-26.2% |
Denmark |
583 |
878 |
50.6% |
1,648 |
2,024 |
22.8% |
Costa Rica |
402 |
272 |
-32.3% |
1,742 |
2,015 |
15.7% |
Guatemala |
476 |
565 |
18.7% |
2,467 |
2,015 |
-18.3% |
| \1 Other Asia region includes China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, and Taiwan. | ||||||
| Source: Compiled from U.S. Bureau of Census records. | ||||||
| Prepared by USDA/FAS/COTSD | ||||||
| July 1997 | ||||||
U.S. Planting Seed Import Highlights |
||||||
July-June Marketing Year 1996/97 Compared to 1995/96 |
||||||
July-May |
||||||
1995/96 |
1996/97 | Change |
1995/96 |
1996/97 | Change | |
Metric Tons |
$1,000 |
|||||
| ALL SEEDS | 191,862 |
216,875 |
13.0% |
270,065 |
334,937 |
24.0% |
| BY KIND | ||||||
Grasses |
23,777 |
37,578 |
58.0% |
25,810 |
46,073 |
78.5% |
| Red Fescue | 14,756 |
21,006 |
42.4% |
13,470 |
22,792 |
69.2% |
| Perennial Ryegrass | 779 |
8,106 |
940.6% |
1,817 |
11,289 |
521.3% |
| Wheatgrass | 663 |
1,308 |
97.3% |
1,126 |
2,521 |
123.9% |
| Bromegrass | 2,980 |
2,630 |
-11.7% |
2,079 |
1,698 |
-18.3% |
| Timothy | 1,192 |
1,104 |
-7.4% |
1,869 |
1,667 |
-10.8% |
| Kentucky Bluegrass | 1,235 |
616 |
-50.1% |
2,047 |
1,146 |
-44.0% |
Other Forages |
12,338 |
8,620 |
-30.1% |
20,539 |
16,827 |
-18.1% |
| Uncertified Alfalfa | 3,353 |
3,034 |
-9.5% |
7,140 |
7,139 |
-0.0% |
| Certified Alfalfa | 808 |
1,019 |
26.1% |
1,761 |
2,406 |
36.6% |
| Red Clover | 3,293 |
1,145 |
-65.2% |
4,356 |
1,911 |
-56.1% |
| White and Ladino Clover | 570 |
532 |
-6.7% |
1,645 |
1,389 |
-15.6% |
Pulses |
52,207 |
54,229 |
3.9% |
22,677 |
26,475 |
16.7% |
| Pea | 11,026 |
12,811 |
16.2% |
6,596 |
8,707 |
32.0% |
| Gram Bean | 16,459 |
24,520 |
49.0% |
4,884 |
7,909 |
61.9% |
| Lentil | 2,730 |
3,963 |
45.2% |
1,365 |
1,750 |
28.2% |
Vegetables |
6,245 |
11,765 |
88.4% |
70,104 |
89,511 |
27.7% |
| Tomato | 254 |
229 |
-9.8% |
21,253 |
21,276 |
0.1% |
| Pepper | 88 |
106 |
20.5% |
9,201 |
14,673 |
59.5% |
| Watermelon | 217 |
347 |
59.9% |
6,641 |
7,722 |
16.3% |
| Pumpkin | 1,995 |
3,181 |
59.4% |
4,593 |
6,974 |
51.8% |
| Onion | 150 |
349 |
132.7% |
4,870 |
5,018 |
3.0% |
| Cantaloupe | 39 |
72 |
84.6% |
2,833 |
4,432 |
56.4% |
| Other Melons | 153 |
146 |
-4.6% |
2,126 |
3,073 |
44.5% |
| Squash | 107 |
91 |
-15.0% |
2,185 |
2,564 |
17.3% |
| Cucumber | 72 |
40 |
-44.4% |
2,092 |
2,304 |
10.1% |
| Cabbage | 15 |
22 |
46.7% |
1,459 |
2,033 |
39.3% |
| Spinach | 203 |
529 |
160.6% |
955 |
1,812 |
89.7% |
| Celery | 1,845 |
2,161 |
17.1% |
1,438 |
1,629 |
13.3% |
| Lettuce | 61 |
42 |
-31.1% |
1,298 |
1,232 |
-5.1% |
| Cauliflower | 15 |
13 |
-13.3% |
1,165 |
1,157 |
-0.7% |
| Broccoli | 13 |
21 |
61.5% |
1,379 |
1,149 |
-16.7% |
Field Crops |
96,254 |
103,325 |
7.3% |
80,466 |
98,334 |
22.2% |
| Field Corn | 44,120 |
52,535 |
19.1% |
57,107 |
76,098 |
33.3% |
| Soybean | 8,141 |
14,008 |
72.1% |
5,216 |
7,898 |
51.4% |
| Rape and Colza | 5,410 |
1,100 |
-79.7% |
3,902 |
3,937 |
0.9% |
| Non-durum Wheat | 20,378 |
16,619 |
-18.4% |
4,532 |
3,721 |
-17.9% |
| Other Sunflower | 2,657 |
914 |
-65.6% |
5,765 |
2,426 |
-57.9% |
| Barley | 8,330 |
8,982 |
7.8% |
1,650 |
1,653 |
0.2% |
Miscellaneous Kinds |
1,047 |
1,359 |
29.8% |
50,469 |
57,716 |
14.4% |
| Flower | 434 |
605 |
39.4% |
46,130 |
50,755 |
10.0% |
| Tree and Shrub | 211 |
219 |
3.8% |
1,735 |
3,314 |
91.0% |
| BY REGION | ||||||
North America |
135,581 |
134,520 |
-0.8% |
89,704 |
105,005 |
17.1% |
South America |
36,493 |
53,236 |
45.9% |
64,986 |
86,037 |
32.4% |
European Union |
4,900 |
5,176 |
5.6% |
41,007 |
51,695 |
26.1% |
| BY COUNTRY | ||||||
Canada |
128,405 |
132,250 |
3.0% |
79,112 |
92,916 |
17.4% |
Chile |
24,648 |
32,325 |
31.1% |
47,440 |
63,529 |
33.9% |
Netherlands |
1,657 |
1,525 |
-8.0% |
22,727 |
24,126 |
6.2% |
China |
6,833 |
6,960 |
1.9% |
18,987 |
22,681 |
19.5% |
Argentina |
10,305 |
18,847 |
82.9% |
14,903 |
18,997 |
27.5% |
Japan |
78 |
189 |
142.3% |
15,041 |
14,245 |
-5.3% |
Mexico |
7,176 |
2,270 |
-68.4% |
10,593 |
12,089 |
14.1% |
New Zealand |
2,325 |
7,524 |
223.6% |
4,382 |
11,434 |
160.9% |
France |
1,372 |
1,202 |
-12.4% |
5,308 |
8,334 |
57.0% |
India |
1,859 |
2,800 |
50.6% |
5,726 |
7,167 |
25.2% |
Germany |
212 |
281 |
32.5% |
4,719 |
6,829 |
44.7% |
Thailand |
540 |
619 |
14.6% |
5,534 |
6,193 |
11.9% |
Australia |
1,213 |
3,388 |
179.3% |
3,762 |
6,122 |
62.7% |
Denmark |
868 |
1,301 |
49.9% |
3,762 |
5,539 |
47.2% |
Guatemala |
15 |
14 |
-6.7% |
6,895 |
5,030 |
-27.0% |
Taiwan |
108 |
108 |
0.0% |
2,212 |
4,818 |
117.8% |
Israel |
74 |
155 |
109.5% |
4,167 |
4,636 |
11.3% |
United Kingdom |
206 |
249 |
20.9% |
2,045 |
3,586 |
75.4% |
Italy |
439 |
508 |
15.7% |
2,069 |
2,752 |
33.0% |
Costa Rica |
185 |
104 |
-43.8% |
681 |
2,490 |
265.6% |
Brazil |
532 |
1,167 |
119.4% |
1,050 |
2,100 |
100.0% |
Peru |
695 |
814 |
17.1% |
813 |
1,335 |
64.2% |
Hungary |
360 |
565 |
56.9% |
684 |
1,123 |
64.2% |
Kenya |
1 |
1 |
-10.1% |
1,440 |
1,100 |
-23.6% |
South Korea |
11 |
17 |
54.5% |
561 |
752 |
34.0% |
South Africa |
225 |
264 |
17.3% |
1,033 |
699 |
-32.3% |
Indonesia |
1 |
--- |
-18.7% |
339 |
497 |
46.6% |
Hong Kong |
136 |
194 |
42.6% |
497 |
488 |
-1.8% |
Turkey |
340 |
135 |
-60.3% |
581 |
456 |
-21.5% |
Egypt |
67 |
198 |
195.5% |
233 |
447 |
91.8% |
Vietnam |
3 |
4 |
1030.6% |
102 |
336 |
229.4% |
Zimbabwe |
7 |
2 |
-71.4% |
110 |
264 |
140.0% |
Burma |
188 |
360 |
91.5% |
133 |
234 |
75.9% |
Honduras |
0 |
1 |
NA |
0 |
206 |
NA |
| --- indicates less than 500 kilograms | ||||||
| Source: Compiled from U.S. Bureau of Census records. | ||||||
| Prepared by USDA/FAS/COTSD | ||||||
| July 1997
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