American agricultural exports have reached $106.3 billion through the first seven months of 2026, marking a 7% increase over the same period last year and putting the U.S. on pace for its strongest export year since 2022. The growth comes despite ongoing trade disputes that continue to create uncertainty in global markets.
Record-Setting Exports to Key Markets
Exports to the United States' four largest trading partners — Mexico, Canada, China, and the European Union — have all increased. Notably, exports to the EU are up 11% year-over-year and are on pace to set an all-time record, driven by strong demand for soybeans, tree nuts, and animal feed.
The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service has announced six Agribusiness Trade Missions for 2026 to further expand market access. Missions are scheduled for Jakarta, Manila, Istanbul, Australia and New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam — targeting high-growth markets where American agricultural products are in rising demand.
The resilience of U.S. farm exports in the face of trade headwinds demonstrates the fundamental strength of American agriculture and the global demand for quality American products.
Global Agricultural Market Outlook
The World Bank projects that its agricultural price index will slip by approximately 2% in 2026, with food and raw material prices expected to hold broadly steady as supply growth keeps pace with demand. Beverage prices, however, are projected to fall by around 7%.
The global agriculture market is expected to grow from $12,974 billion in 2025 to $13,844 billion in 2026, representing a compound annual growth rate of 6.7%. This growth is being driven by rising demand in developing economies, technology adoption in farming practices, and increased investment in agricultural infrastructure.
Challenges on the Horizon
Despite the positive export numbers, the sector faces headwinds. Stagflation concerns continue into 2026, and the commodity market is dealing with overproduction pressures including high grain inventory, an oversupply of tree crops and vegetables, and diminishing premiums for organic production.
The FAO's latest State of Agricultural Commodity Markets report highlights that while trade volumes are growing, the benefits are unevenly distributed, with smallholder farmers in developing regions still facing significant barriers to market access and fair pricing.
Sources:
Capital Press — U.S. Farm Exports Surge 7%
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service — Agribusiness Trade Missions 2026
FAO — The State of Agricultural Commodity Markets 2026
World Bank — Global Agricultural Markets in 2026
The Business Research Company — Global Agriculture Market Report 2026