MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Exports of U.S. agricultural equipment dropped 6 percent in 2013 compared to the previous year for a total of $12 billion shipped to global markets, according to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, citing U.S. Commerce Department data it uses in trend reports for members.
Results were mixed by world region. AEM said the 6-percent decrease for 2013 follows three years of export growth (16 percent in 2012, 23 percent in 2011 and 12 percent in 2010), after a 2009 decline of 23 percent in the depths of the recession.
Compared to 2012, 2013 U.S. agricultural equipment exports to South America declined 18 percent to $1.2 billion; exports to Central America remained steady with a gain of 1 percent to $1.2 billion.
Exports to Europe dropped 14 percent to $2.8 billion; exports to Australia/Oceania decreased 26 percent to $912 million. Exports to Asia increased 5 percent for a total $1.2 billion. Exports to Canada increased 6 percent for a total $4.3 billion; exports to Africa remained steady with a loss of less than one-half percent to $442 million.
The top export destinations for American-made agricultural machinery in 2013 by dollar volume were Canada at $4.3 billion, up 6 percent; Mexico at $988 million, up 3 percent; and Australia at $822 million, down 28 percent.
