That dollar amount represents 6.7% of worldwide exports for all goods accelerating by 45.8% compared to $1.124 trillion 10 years earlier in 2012 when the food-to-total exports metric was 6.1%.
Year over year, the trillion-dollar value of global food shipments inflated by 8.4% from 2021 to 2022.
In comparison, the value of all products exported from 2012 to 2022 grew by a slower percentage at 33.1% over the 10 year period but at a faster rate at 10.6% than the 8.4% inflation rate for food exports.
Given the world’s population of 8 billion people in 2022, the total of $1.639 trillion in 2022 food exports equates roughly $205 for every human being on the planet. That per-capita metric is 30.2% higher than the $157 person average for 2012 and 6.9% higher than food spending compared to 2021.
Top Exports by Food Categories
Below, you will find all 17 export product groups for food ranked by total sales in 2022. Those exported categories are specific to food types, while each listed entry also reveals its total dollar value in global shipments.
Also shown is the percentage share each export food category represents in terms of inter-country food sales.
- Cereals: US$176.3 billion (10.8% of globally exported food)
- Animal/vegetable fats, oils, waxes: $174 billion (10.6%)
- Meat: $164 billion (10%)
- Oil seeds: $152.1 billion (9.3%)
- Fish: $146.8 billion (9%)
- Fruits, nuts: $136.3 billion (8.3%)
- Dairy, eggs, honey: $111.4 billion (6.8%)
- Miscellaneous food preparations: $98.2 billion (6%)
- Cereal/milk preparations: $95.8 billion (5.8%)
- Vegetables: $83.2 billion (5.1%)
- Vegetable/fruit/nut preparations: $77.4 billion (4.7%)
- Meat/seafood preparations: $61.7 billion (3.8%)
- Sugar, sugar confectionery: $56.7 billion (3.5%)
- Cocoa: $54.5 billion (3.3%)
- Milling products, malt, starches: $27.3 billion (1.7%)
- Miscellaneous animal-origin products: $12 billion (0.7%)
- Gums, resins, other vegetable saps: $11.1 billion (0.7%)
Fourteen among the 17 product categories increased in value for global exports from 2021 to 2022.
Vegetable saps including gums and resins as well as oil seeds represent the fastest year-over-year gainers, each up by 19.2% since 2021.
Animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes recorded a 16.9% improvement in export food sales.
Global shipments of sugar including sugar confectionery posted the next fastest gain in value thanks to its 15.7% increase from 2021.
Other notable gains were for exports of cereals led by wheat and rice (up 15.5%), milling products, malt and starches (up 15%), then fish (up 9.8%).
There was a trio of decliners among the export product categories namely fruits and nuts (down -6.7% from 2021), cocoa (down -3.7%) and vegetables (down -0.2%).
Note that the results listed above are at the categorized two-digit Harmonized Tariff System (HTS) code level. For a more granular view of exported goods at the four-digit HTS code level, peruse the sections below specific to the 5 food product categories that generated the highest international sales from exports in 2022.
International Cereals Exports
Listed below are the 8 types of cereals that produced the greatest global sales from exports in 2022.
- Wheat and meslin: US$66.2 billion (37.5% of subcategory total)
- Maize or corn: $62.5 billion (35.4%)
- Rice: $29.3 billion (16.6%)
- Barley: $9.9 billion (5.6%)
- Grain sorghum: $3.6 billion (2%)
- Miscellaneous cereals like buckwheat, millet: $1.3 billion (0.7%)
- Oats: $1.2 billion (0.7%)
- Rye: $489.6 million (0.3%)
The strongest percentage gains by types of exported cereals from 2021 to 2022 belong to corn (up 21.1%), wheat and meslin (up 16.6%), oats (up 15.5%) then grain sorghum (up 10.8%).
Posting year-over-year declines were revenues for exported rye (down -10.1%) and barley (down -9%).
Latest Available Country Data for Exported Cereals
The following analysis presents the 15 top exporters of cereals by country. All told, the major shippers of cereals generated over four-fifths (83.9%) of cereals exported during 2022.
- United States: US$31.6 billion (17.9% of global total)
- Argentina: $14.4 billion (8.2%)
- India: $14.1 billion (8%)
- Brazil: $13.9 billion (7.9%)
- Australia: $13.8 billion (7.8%)
- France: $11.9 billion (6.7%)
- Canada: $10.2 billion (5.8%)
- Ukraine: $9.2 billion (5.2%)
- Russia: $8.1 billion (4.6%)
- Romania: $4.6 billion (2.6%)
- Thailand: $4.1 billion (2.3%)
- Germany: $3.7 billion (2.1%)
- Poland: $3.3 billion (1.9%)
- Pakistan: $2.6 billion (1.5%)
- Vietnam: $2.6 billion (1.5%)
Benefits from the strongest increases in their exported cereals sales from 2021 to 2022 were suppliers in Brazil (up 187.4%), Poland (up 43%), France (up 42.3%) then Australia (up 37.3%).
Year over year, double-digit declines in revenues from exported cereals sales were experienced by providers in Ukraine (down -25.7% from 2021), Vietnam (down -17.4%) and Russia (down -11.3%).
International Exports of Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils
Listed below are the 7 subcategories of animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes that produced the greatest global sales from exports in 2022.
- Palm oil: US$55.5 billion (28.4% of subcategory total)
- Sunflower, safflower or cotton-seed oils: $20.9 billion (9.9%)
- Soya-bean oil: $17.2 billion (9.4%)
- Rape, colza or mustard oil: $14 billion (7.1%)
- Boiled, oxidised, dehydrated, sulphurized animal or vegetable fats, oils: $10.2 billion (4%)
- Olive oil: $10 billion (5%)
- Margarine: $9.9 billion (4.7%)
The strongest percentage gains by types of exported vegetable or animal fats, oils and waxes from 2021 to 2022 belong to boiled, oxidised, dehydrated and sulphurized varieties (up 69.9%), soya-bean oil (up 68.2%), rape, colza or mustard oil (up 56.8%) then margarine (up 40.4%).
Posting the most modest year-over-year increase were revenues for exported palm oil via a still respectable 12.2% upturn.
Latest Available Country Data for Exported Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils
The following analysis presents the 15 top exporters of animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes by country. All told, the listed major shippers generated almost three-quarters (74.2%) for this commodity group during 2022.
- Indonesia: US$35.2 billion (20.2% of global total)
- Malaysia: $23.7 billion (13.6%)
- Netherlands: $8.4 billion (4.8%)
- Argentina: $7.8 billion (4.5%)
- Spain: $7.6 billion (4.3%)
- Canada: $6.3 billion (3.6%)
- Ukraine: $6 billion (3.4%)
- Russia: $5.5 billion (3.2%)
- Brazil: $5 billion (2.9%)
- Germany: $5 billion (2.9%)
- United States: $4.3 billion (2.5%)
- Italy: $3.9 billion (2.3%)
- China: $3.6 billion (2.1%)
- Türkiye: $3.5 billion (2%)
- Belgium: $3.4 billion (2%)
Benefits from the strongest increases in their export sales of animal or vegetable fats, oils and waxes from 2021 to 2022 were suppliers in Brazil (up 81.2%), Türkiye (up 70.1%), China (up 52.4%) then Italy (up 26.7%).
Year over year, there was a trio of decliners among the listed suppliers namely Ukraine (down -15% from 2021) and Argentina (down -10%).
International Meat Exports
Listed below are the 10 types of meat that produced the greatest global sales from exports in 2022.
- Frozen beef: US$38.7 billion (23.6% of subcategory total)
- Poultry meat: $35.5 billion (21.6%)
- Swine meat: $33.7 billion (20.6%)
- Fresh or chilled beef: $29.5 billion (18%)
- Red meat offal: $9.4 billion (5.8%)
- Sheep or goat meat: $9.4 billion (5.7%)
- Salted, dried or smoked offal, flours $5.2 billion (3.2%)
- Pig or poultry fat: $812.7 million (0.5%)
- Rabbit or pigeon meat: $772.4 million (0.5%)
- Horse or donkey meat: $343.8 million (0.2%)
Three types of exported meat experienced double-digit increases in their sales year over year. These were frozen beef (up 25.4% from 2021), poultry meat (up 18.1%) and rabbit or pigeon meat (up 11.7%).
Recording the worst declines year over year were revenues for exported swine meat (down -8.4%) and pig or poultry fat (down -8.3%).
Latest Available Country Data for Exported Meat
The following analysis presents the 15 top exporters of meat by country. All told, the major meat suppliers accounted for over four-fifths (81.2%) of meat exported during 2022.
- Brazil: US$24 billion (14.6% of global total)
- United States: $23.3 billion (14.2%)
- Australia: $12 billion (7.3%)
- Netherlands: $11.5 billion (7%)
- Spain: $9.9 billion (6%)
- Poland: $7.9 billion (4.8%)
- Germany: $7.8 billion (4.7%)
- Canada: $7.1 billion (4.4%)
- New Zealand: $6.3 billion (3.8%)
- France: $4.1 billion (2.5%)
- Ireland: $4.1 billion (2.5%)
- Argentina: $4 billion (2.5%)
- Denmark: $4 billion (2.4%)
- Belgium: $3.8 billion (2.3%)
- India: $3.4 billion (2%)
Generating double-digit increases in their exported meat sales from 2021 to 2022 were suppliers in Brazil (up 31.5%), Poland (up 24.9%) then Argentina (up 18.7%).
Year over year, the severest declines in revenues from exported meat sales were endured by shippers in Denmark (down -7.4% from 2021), Spain (down -5%) and Canada (down -4.5%).
International Oil Seeds Exports
By far, soya beans represent the largest percentage of export sales for this commodity group. Listed below are soya beans and 13 other types of oil seeds exported in 2022.
- Soya beans: US$75.2 billion (61.7% of subcategory total)
- Rapeseeds or colza seeds: $14.7 billion (11.5%)
- Sowing seeds, fruits, spores: $8.7 billion (5.5%)
- Sunflower seeds: $4.7 billion (4.4%)
- Miscellaneous oil seeds, oleaginous fruits: $5.4 billion (3.7%)
- Fodder roots, alfalfa, clover, forage kale: $3.6 billion (2.7%)
- Plants, plant parts including seeds or fruits: $3.9 billion (2.6%)
- Uncooked groundnuts: $4.3 billion (2.6%)
- Locust beans, seaweeds, sugar beet: $2.5 billion (1.9%)
- Linseed: $1.4 billion (1%)
- Flours, meals of oil seeds or oleaginous fruits: $1.6 billion (1%)
- Hop cones: $806.8 million (0.5%)
- Cereal straw, husks: $412.1 million (0.3%)
- Copra $101.2 million (0.1%)
The 4 leading types of exported oil seeds in terms of highest percentage gains from 2021 to 2022 were sunflower seeds (up 43.7%), soya beans (up 24.7%), rapeseed or colza seeds (up 19.6%) then linseed (up 17.6%).
Enduring the worst decline year over year were revenues for exported uncooked groundnuts dragged down by an -8.7% drop compared to 2021.
Latest Available Country Data for Exported Oil Seeds
The following analysis presents the 15 top exporters of oil seeds by country. All told, the major oil seeds suppliers generated well over four-fifths (86%) of oil seeds exported during 2022.
- Brazil: US$47.2 billion (31% of global total)
- United States: $40.2 billion (26.4%)
- Canada: $8.1 billion (5.4%)
- Australia: $6.1 billion (4%)
- Argentina: $4.2 billion (2.8%)
- Netherlands: $4.2 billion (2.7%)
- Ukraine: $3.8 billion (2.5%)
- China: $3.2 billion (2.1%)
- France: $2.8 billion (1.8%)
- Uruguay: $2140.5 million (1.4%)
- Romania: $2.1 billion (1.4%)
- India: $1.9 billion (1.2%)
- Germany: $1.8 billion (1.2%)
- Belgium: $1624.9 million (1.1%)
- Russia: $1.2 billion (1%)
The 6 strongest advances in oil seeds export sales from 2021 to 2022 belong to Uruguay (up 114.6%), Australia (up 96.8%), Belgium (up 66.5%), Ukraine (up 55.3%), United States of America (up 21.6%) then Brazil (up 20.5%).
Year over year, there was a pair of decliners namely the Netherlands (down -14.3% from 2021) and Canada (down -5.6%).
International Fruits and Nuts Exports
Listed below are the 14 types of fruits and nuts that generated the greatest export revenues in 2022.
- Fresh berries including strawberries, currants: US$24.3 billion (16.4% of subcategory total)
- Miscellaneous nuts: $20.3 billion (13.4%)
- Dates/pineapples/mango/avocado: $16.7 billion (11.4%)
- Fresh or dried citrus fruit: $16.4 billion (10.7%)
- Bananas, plantains: $13.5 billion (9.2%)
- Grapes (fresh or dried): $11.4 billion (8.3%)
- Apples, pears (fresh): $10.9 billion (6.7%)
- Cherries/peaches/nectarines/plums: $8.4 billion (6.2%)
- Coconuts, Brazil nuts, cashews $9.3 billion (6.2%)
- Steamed or boiled fruits, nuts: $7.2 billion (5.5%)
- Melons including watermelons, papayas: $4.3 billion (3.1%)
- Dried fruits including apricots, prunes: $3 billion (2.1%)
- Specially preserved fruits, nuts: $235.7 million (0.2%)
- Citrus fruts or melon peel: $112 million (0.1%)
The only types of exported fruits and nuts that appreciated were steamed or boiled fruits and nuts (up 13.7% from 2021) then cherries, peaches, nectarines and plums (up 0.5%).
The severest declining fruits and nuts subcategories were citrus fruits or melon peel (down -20.3% from 2021) and fresh apples and pears (down -15.9%).
Latest Available Country Data for Exported Fruits and Nuts
The following analysis presents the 15 top exporters of fruits and nuts by country. Combined, the major fruits and nuts suppliers generated over two-thirds (68.3%) of fruits and nuts exported during 2022.
- United States: US$14.8 billion (10.8% of global total)
- Spain: $10.2 billion (7.5%)
- Mexico: $9.2 billion (6.8%)
- Chile: $8 billion (5.9%)
- Netherlands: $7.4 billion (5.4%)
- Thailand: $5.7 billion (4.2%)
- China: $5.5 billion (4%)
- Türkiye: $4.9 billion (3.6%)
- Vietnam: $4.7 billion (3.5%)
- Peru: $4.7 billion (3.4%)
- South Africa: $4.5 billion (3.3%)
- Italy: $4.5 billion (3.3%)
- Ecuador: $3.8 billion (2.8%)
- Belgium: $2.7 billion (2%)
- Hong Kong: $3.1 billion (2%)
Reaping the biggest increases in their exported fruits and nuts sales from 2021 to 2022 were suppliers in Chile (up 23.9%) and Mexico (up 11.7%).
Double-digit declines in revenues from exported fruits and nuts sales were attributed to suppliers in Spain (down -15.2% from 2021), Netherlands (down -13.6%), mainland China (down -13.5%) and Hong Kong (down -12.7%).
See also Chicken Exports by Country, Top Beef Exporting Countries, Top Frozen Vegetables Exports by Country, Corn Exports by Country, Soya Beans Exports by Country and Average Banana Prices Compared for Major Bananas Export Countries
Research Sources:
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Country Profiles. Accessed on October 4, 2023
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 4, 2023
SHIPHUB, HS Code for Food. Accessed on October 4, 2023
Yahoo! Finance, Here’s where inflation is hitting the hardest. Accessed on October 4, 2023