## U.S. PLANTING SEED TRADEJuly-October 1996 Highlights

### *December 1996*

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### TRADE SUMMARY

*Graph: Exports by destination*

 U.S. planting seed exports during the July-October 1996period totaled 261,441 metric tons valued at $204.5 million,increases of 25 and 20 percent, respectively, over the sameperiod in 1995. Imports reached 42,930 tons valued at $81.9million. 

 Mexico continued to be the best export market for U.S.planting seeds, reaching 104,655 tons valued at $65.2 million.After Mexico, the top ten markets were Canada ($22.8 million),Japan ($19.4 million), Argentina ($14.5 million), Saudi Arabia($6.8 million), Italy ($6.3 million), the Netherlands ($5.5million), the United Kingdom ($4.6 million), Chile ($4.5million), and Germany ($4.5 million). The top ten Marketscomprise 75 percent of total U.S. planting seed exports. Alreadyat this early stage of the marketing year (MY), 26 countries havereached the million dollar market level combining for 92 percentof total exports. 

 On the import side, Canada retained the top position as asource for planting seeds supplying 31,089 tons valued at $20.4million. Rounding out the top ten suppliers were Chile, ($8.8million), the Netherlands ($8.4 million), Mexico ($6.4 million),Japan ($5.4 million), China ($5.3 million) Australia ($2.6million), the United Kingdom ($2.6 million), India ($2.3million), and New Zealand ($2.3 million). These ten countriessupply 79 percent of total U.S. planting seed imports. *Graph: Exports by type.*
*Grass seed* exports increased 32 percent in volume and26 percent in value to 15,517 tons and $19.5 million,respectively. Annual ryegrass seed increased 8 percent in volumeto 4,709 tons but declined 6 percent in value to $3.4 million,yet remained the top exported grass seed. Imports of grass seedcontinue to climb reaching 11,732  tons valued at $13.2million (up 31 and 49 percent, respectively). 

 Exports for the *other forage seed* group climbed 35percent in volume 7,659 tons and 60 percent in value to $17.2million. Imports for the group continue to lose ground withvolume and value off 24 percent and 23 percent, respectively.Alfalfa seed is setting the pace for this group with exportsdoubling in volume while imports were down. 

 Exports for the *pulse seed*group were up in bothvolume and value, 42 percent to 15,385 tons and 40 percent to$11.9 million, respectively. Imports were mixed with volume off22 percent to 17,797 tons while value was up slightly to $9.0million. 

 In the *vegetable seed*group, export export volume wasup very slightly to 11,192 tons while declining 1 percent invalue to $62.4 million. Imports increased 15 percent involume and value to 2,418 tons and $26.1 million, respectively. 

*Field crop seed exports* also increased at virtuallythe same rate for volume and value -- 25 percent -- to 210,000tons and $73.9 million. Imports of field crop seed also increasedsharply, up 46 percent in volume to 8,614 tons and 163 percent invalue to $6.3 million. 

(For further information on the GSM-102 program forhorticultural commodities, contact Loyd Coonrod, Seed Marketingand Analysis specialist, (202)729-9491, or via e-mail at[email protected]

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