PITTSBURG, Kan. — Kansas exported $5.35 billion in agricultural goods in 2021, nearly a third more than the total for 2020, marking the first time the state’s agriculture exports topped $5 billion in at least a decade.
“Kansans have long-known that farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers are vital to our state’s economy,” Gov. Laura Kelly said in a press release Wednesday. “Kansas is a national leader in agriculture, and setting these records solidifies the important role the state also has on a global scale.”
The top export for Kansas in 2021 was meat, making up $2.06 billion, or 54.07%, of all agriculture exports. The second was cereals at $1.51 billion, or 39.75%, of total agriculture exports in 2021. Other products exported include oilseed, vinegar, beverages, dairy products, milling products, fats, vegetables, flour, and starch, among others.
Despite supply chain issues impacting many industries, Kansas exported agricultural products to 187 foreign markets in 2021. Mexico, Japan, and China were the top three countries to purchase Kansas agricultural goods. Mexico purchased $1.91 billion, or 44.33%, of all agriculture exports. Japan followed by purchasing $822.78 million, or 19.90%, of all Kansas agriculture exports. China was third with $701.30 million, or 16.96%, purchased. South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brazil were other countries in the top ten.
“Through the work of Kansas farmers, ranchers, other agriculture producers, and ag and food processors, in partnership with our Division of Agricultural Marketing, Kansas leads in agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Mike Beam said.
