A List Of The Top Agricultural Exporting Countries

Agricultural trade has grown significantly in recent years, with global agricultural exports reaching USD 1.465 trillion in 2024, up from USD 1.156 trillion in 2020. The European Union, United States, Brazil, China, and Canada are among the largest agri-export countries, together accounting for a major share of global agricultural trade.

India is also a significant player, ranking 9th globally with USD 123.4 billion in agricultural exports in 2024. Its export basket includes rice, bovine meat, sugar, vegetables, fruits, coffee, and other agricultural products, with strong demand across international markets.

So, which countries are leading global agricultural exports, and how has their performance changed over the past few years? This article looks at the top agricultural exporting countries, their key export products, growth from 2020 to 2024, and India’s position in the global market.

Global Agricultural Export Overview (WTO Data, 2024)

Metric	Value
Total world agricultural exports (2024)	USD 1.465 trillion
Total world agricultural exports (2023)	USD 1.468 trillion
Total world agricultural exports (2022)	USD 1.494 trillion (peak)
Total world agricultural exports (2020)	USD 1.156 trillion
Total world agricultural exports (2014)	USD 1.051 trillion

The table shows how global agricultural exports have changed over the past decade. Export value increased from USD 1.051 trillion in 2014 to USD 1.465 trillion in 2024, with the strongest level recorded in 2022 at USD 1.494 trillion. Exports have eased slightly since then, but remain significantly higher than they were a decade ago.

Top Agricultural Exporting Countries in the World

The following rankings are based on WTO Secretariat data sourced from WITS/Comtrade and Trade Data Monitor (TDM), covering export values in USD millions across all agricultural product groups.

1. European Union - USD 644.9 Billion

The European Union remains the largest agricultural exporting bloc in the world, accounting for a significant share of global farm trade. EU exports grew 22.6% from 2020 to 2024, driven by processed foods, dairy, meat, and cereals.

Note that WTO data excludes intra-EU trade. These figures represent EU exports to the rest of the world only.

2. United States - USD 490.2 Billion

The United States is the world’s largest single-country agricultural exporter, a position it has maintained for much of the past century.

Soybeans, corn, wheat, poultry, beef, cotton, and processed food products form the backbone of US agricultural exports. Its export strength is also supported by extensive infrastructure, including grain elevators, inland waterways, rail networks, and Gulf Coast ports that allow large volumes of agricultural commodities to move efficiently to international markets.

Between 2020 and 2024, US agricultural exports grew by 17.1%. Export values reached USD 546.8 billion in 2022 before declining to around USD 490 billion in 2024, as global commodity prices eased.

3. Brazil - USD 422.3 Billion

Brazil recorded the highest growth rate among the top exporters - +66.1% from 2020 to 2024 , making it the fastest-growing major agricultural export economy in the world.

Soya beans, beef, poultry, sugar, corn, and coffee are Brazil's primary export categories. Brazil's aggressive agricultural expansion, particularly in the Cerrado region, has positioned it as a direct competitive threat to US market share in Asian and Middle Eastern import markets.

4. China - USD 187.2 Billion

Most people think of China as an agricultural importer, and by volume of imports, it is the largest in the world. But China is simultaneously a significant exporter.

China exports vegetables, processed foods, aquatic products (fish, shrimp, shellfish), fruits, and animal feed. A lot of Chinese agricultural exports are value-added. Raw materials come in, get processed, and go out as packaged or prepared food products.

China's exports grew from USD 145.9 billion in 2020 to USD 187.2 billion in 2024, a 28.3% increase. The contrast between China's massive import volumes and its growing export value reflects how central the country has become to global food processing supply chains.

5. Canada - USD 177.4 Billion

Canada is one of the largest exporters of wheat, canola (rapeseed), pulse crops (lentils, peas, chickpeas), and pork. Canadian lentils and chickpeas in particular feed a significant portion of South Asia.

Canadian exports grew from USD 139.3 billion in 2020 to USD 177.4 billion in 2024, driven by strong Asian and Middle Eastern demand for its grain and pulse crops.

6. Mexico - USD 139.0 Billion

Mexico's exports grew from USD 102.7 billion in 2020 to USD 139.0 billion in 2024, a 35.3% increase.

 Avocados, tomatoes, berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries), peppers, and cucumbers are Mexico's standout categories. Mexico is now the world's largest avocado exporter, and the global avocado boom has been a significant driver of its export growth.

Its proximity to the US market, combined with USMCA trade arrangements, gives Mexico a structural advantage that few other agricultural exporters can replicate.

7. Indonesia - USD 131.5 Billion

Indonesia’s agricultural exports are heavily driven by palm oil, making the commodity a major contributor to the country’s position in global food and consumer goods markets.

Palm oil is used across a wide range of everyday products, including cooking oil, margarine, soap, shampoo, cosmetics, and processed foods. Indonesia is the world’s largest palm oil producer, with palm oil generating around USD 22.6 billion in export value in 2024.

Beyond palm oil, Indonesia also exports rubber, cocoa, coffee, and spices, giving the country a diverse agricultural export base. Overall exports grew by 37.9% between 2020 and 2024. 

However, export values have eased from the USD 153 billion peak recorded in 2022, following a decline in palm oil prices from their earlier highs.

8. Australia - USD 128.6 Billion

Australia’s agricultural exports stood at USD 82.6 billion in 2020 before rising sharply to USD 143.5 billion in 2022, supported by improved weather conditions and a significant increase in wheat production. By 2024, exports had settled at USD 128.6 billion, which was still 55.6% higher than in 2020.

Wheat and bovine meat remain among Australia’s leading agricultural exports, with bovine meat alone generating USD 9.3 billion in 2024. Strong demand comes from markets across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Japan, reinforcing Australia’s role as a major food supplier to Asia and other international markets.

9. India - USD 123.4 Billion

India ranks 9th globally in agricultural exports by value, with exports growing 35.9% from 2020 to 2024. This is covered in detail in the section below.

10. Thailand - USD 106.4 Billion

Thailand's agricultural exports - rice, rubber, cassava, sugar, and processed seafood - grew 39.8% from 2020 to 2024. Thailand is one of the world's largest rice exporters and a major processed food supplier to global markets.

India's Agricultural Exports: Position and Product Mix (2024)

India's total agricultural exports stood at USD 123.4 billion in 2024, up from USD 90.8 billion in 2020 - a 35.9% increase over four years.

India's top agricultural export categories by value in 2024, based on WTO data:

Product Group	Export Value (USD million, 2024)
Rice	11,647
Bovine meat	3,617
Sugar	2,224
Tobacco	1,826
Vegetable oils	1,676
Oilcakes	1,478
Other oilseeds	1,455
Vegetables	1,250
Fruits	1,221
Processed fruits & vegetables	1,182
Coffee	1,112
Cotton	1,047

Rice is India’s largest agricultural export category, with India being the world’s largest rice exporter by volume. Bovine meat (buffalo meat) is another major export, while spices remain an important part of India’s agricultural trade.

India’s agricultural exports continue to benefit from competitive pricing and strong demand across Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia — key markets for Ashadhan Exim.

Why Emerging Economies Are Growing Faster Than Established Exporters

The data reveals a clear pattern: emerging agricultural exporters are growing faster than established ones.

Country	Growth 2020–2024
Brazil	+66.1%
Australia	+55.6%
Thailand	+39.8%
Indonesia	+37.9%
Mexico	+35.3%
India	+35.9%
China	+28.3%
Canada	+27.3%
United States	+17.1%
European Union	+22.6%

The US and EU, the two largest exporters, show the slowest growth rates. Brazil, Australia, and the emerging Asian exporters are capturing increasing market share, particularly in the fast-growing import markets of Africa and Asia.

This matters for India specifically. India's competitive advantages - lower production costs, geographic proximity to African and Middle Eastern markets, and a diverse agricultural product base - position it well as global demand shifts toward value-for-money suppliers.