United States

Department of

Agriculture

Foreign

Agricultural

Service

Circular Series

FFVS 1-98

January 1998

July-November 1997 Highlights

July-November U.S. Planting Seed Exports by Group

Marketing Years 1988/89 Through 1997/98

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

COTSD/C&MP/FAS/USDA

1988/89

1989/90

1990/91

1991/92

1992/93

1993/94

1994/95

1995/96

1996/97

1997/98

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Marketing Years

$ Millions

Miscellaneous

Kinds

Field

Crops

Vegetables

Pulses

Other

Forages

Grasses

General Trade Summary

U.S. planting seed exports during

July-November 1997 totaled 367,913

metric tons valued at $321.9 million,

a decrease of 2.5 percent in volume

but an increase of 6 percent in value

over the same period in 1996. 

Imports for the period totaled 50,058

tons (5 percent below a year ago)

valued at $114.5 million (9 percent

above last year).

By group, exports for the period were

up substantially in all cases except

pulses. Total grasses are up

substantially, 19 percent by volume to

21,463 tons and 17 percent by value

to $28 million. Two of the three

countries targeted for Market Access

Program funds show gains in volume and value over

last year. Grass seed exports to China reached

700,132 tons valued at $1.3 million, up 17 percent

and 89 percent, respectively. Results so far to

Mexico are not as dramatic, showing grass seed

volume up 8 percent to 5,749 tons and 16 percent in

value to $7.9 million. Despite positive program

results in Chile, grass seed exports are down 30

percent in volume and 14 percent in value due to

free trade concessions available to Canada but not

the United States.

The export value of seven seedkinds exceed $10

million as of this period compared to five in the

previous report (FFVS 12-97). Those seven

seedkinds (field corn, non-durum wheat, soybean,

flower, tomato, certified alfalfa, and sweet corn)

account for 56 percent of total exports for the

period.

Export results by country for the period roughly

mirror the results by seedkind: seven countries

exceeded the $10 million mark compared to five in

the previous report. However, exports by country

are much more concentrated than by seedkind as the

top seven country markets account for 69 percent of

total exports.

Trade Inquiries

The following trade inquiries were recently

submitted by a U.S. agricultural office for

publication as a “Trade Lead.” For more

information about Trade Leads call 202-690-3416.

Seeds for Sowing, Tree and Shrub

[1209.99.20.00(0)]-Colombia Ornamental

Trees: QUANTITY: 10,000 seeds of each of the

varieties: Golden, book, lemon, and Araucaria pines

and Scheflera. DELIVERY: Every 4 months. 

PACKAGING: Standard export seed packaging. 

QUOTE: FOB Miami. BANK: Banco Central
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

1400 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SW

STOP 1004

WASHINGTON, DC 20250-1004

For questions concerning your subscription or change of address,

PRINT OR TYPE the new address, including ZIP code and return

this sheet to:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION CENTER

SPRINGFIELD, VA 22161

For questions or concerns on the data included in this publication,

contact us at the address shown above.

For Further 

Information Contact:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Foreign Agricultural Service

Cotton, Oilseeds, Tobacco and Seeds Division

1400 Independence Avenue S.W.

STOP 1051

Washington, D.C. 20250-1051

Telephone: 202-720-9491

FAX: 202-690-1171

e-mail: coonrod@fas.usda.gov

Larry Blum Director

Lynn Abbott Deputy Director/Marketing

Frank Coolidge Deputy Director/Analysis

Loyd G. Coonrod Seed Marketing and Analysis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,

large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-

800-245-6340 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Top 7 Seedkinds Exported During July-November 1997

Compared to July-November 1988 Through 1996

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

COTSD/C&MP/FAS/USDA

1988/89

1989/90

1990/91

1991/92

1992/93

1993/94

1994/95

1995/96

1996/97

1997/98

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Marketing Years

$ Millions

Sweet

Corn

Certified

Alfalfa

Tomato

Flower

Soybean

Non-durum

Wheat

Field

Corn

All

Others

Hipotecario, Barrio Restrepo office branch. 

CONTACT: Mr. WILLIAM FERNANDO

RAMIREZ, Industria Marroquinera de Colombia,

Calle 15 Sur No. 16-39, Piso 3-4, Bogota,

Cundinamarca, 3 Colombia Phone: (571)

272-0571 FAX: (571) 366-2957. [Ref

Num:19980127-0003-Bogota(CO1)]

Seeds for Sowing, Flower

[1209.30.00.00(0)]-Colombia (CO)

QUANTITY: five grams of each of the

following varieties: Viola Pirnaer, Viola

schw. Riesen, Rutterrube rot, and Dianthus

barb. QUALITY: Best available. 

DELIVERY: April 30, 1998. 

PACKAGING: Standard. QUOTE: FOB

Miami. BANK: Banco Central

Hipotecario-Barrio Restrepo, Bogota. 

CONTACT: Mr. WILLIAM FERNANDO

RAMIREZ, Industria Marroquinera de

Colombia, Calle 15 Sur No. 16-39, Piso 3-

4, Bogota, Cundinamarca, 3 Colombia Phone:

(571) 272-0571 FAX: (571) 366-2957. [Ref

Num:19980203-0004-Bogota(CO1)]
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF

AGRICULTURE

FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE

1400 INDEPENDENCE AVENUE, SW

STOP 1004

WASHINGTON, DC 20250-1004

For questions concerning your subscription or change of address,

PRINT OR TYPE the new address, including ZIP code and return

this sheet to:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION

NATIONAL TECHNICAL INFORMATION CENTER

SPRINGFIELD, VA 22161

For questions or concerns on the data included in this publication,

contact us at the address shown above.

For Further 

Information Contact:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Foreign Agricultural Service

Cotton, Oilseeds, Tobacco and Seeds Division

1400 Independence Avenue S.W.

STOP 1051

Washington, D.C. 20250-1051

Telephone: 202-720-9491

FAX: 202-690-1171

e-mail: coonrod@fas.usda.gov

Larry Blum Director

Lynn Abbott Deputy Director/Marketing

Frank Coolidge Deputy Director/Analysis

Loyd G. Coonrod Seed Marketing and Analysis

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, national

origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all

programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille,

large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250, or call 1-

800-245-6340 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer.