New figures from the International Agribusiness Center show that Wisconsin exports of food, forestry and agriculture products were up 14 percent during the first quarter of 2021 when compared to the same time a year earlier. The agency says double-digit gains to China, Mexico and Japan are being credited for the boost in total sales abroad.
Contributing factors for the strong quarter include the relative economic recovery from COVID-19 in several Asian countries. However, container shortages, elevated shipping costs, recurring surges in COVID-19 infections with new variants, and the resulting lock-downs are headwinds that can slow growth.
During the first three months of this year, Wisconsin exported over $912 million in agricultural and food products to 122 countries. The top three export markets for the Badger State were Canada, China and Mexico--making up just over half of the total exports.
Wisconsin currently ranks 13th in the U.S. in agricultural exports and first in the export of ginseng roots, prepared/preserved cranberries, raw furskins, bovine semen, and edible preparations of meat, fish, and crustaceans, and whey. The state also ranked second in the export of sweet corn prepared/preserved and fifth in the export of cheese.
Categories: Wisconsin, Business