U.S. planting seed exports during the July-Marchperiod totaled 903,577 metric tons valued at $736.9 million,increases of 73 and 27 percent, respectively, over the sameperiod last year. Imports for the period reached 137,595 tonsvalued at $238.4 million. 

For the first time since the 1989/90 marketing year (MY) the9-month cumulative total export value exceeds the previous year'sfull 12-month total. This year's 9-month cumulative value exceedslast year's 12-month total by $32.8 million compared to the MY1989/90 value of $34.3 million. 

Virtually all major seed groups are contributing to thisyear's export surge with current increases in volume ranging froma low of 21 percent for pulse seed to a high of 90 percent forfield crop seed and values ranging from 15 percent for vegetableseed to 37 percent for pulse seed. On the import side, threegroups are declining in volume and one in value from last year. 

Field corn seed takes top honors for both imports and exports,reaching $126 million in exports and $44.0 in imports leaving abalance of trade of $81.6 million. Cumulative totals show thattwo seedkinds have exceeded $100 million in total exports and tenmore in the $10 million to $100 million range. These 12 seedkindsaccounted for 68 percent of total seed exports. On the importside, only five seedkinds have exceeded the $10 million level.The five seedkinds accounted for 56 percent of total imports. 

Mexico continued as the best export market for planting seeds,surging 105 percent to 321,375 tons and 56 percent by value at$162.9 million. Canada led suppliers of planting seeds to theUnited States, shipping 92,934 tons, valued at $70.9 million, adecrease of 2 percent in volume but an increase of 14 percent invalue. 

So far, Mexico is the only U.S. planting seedmarket to ever exceed the $100 million level. This year, for thefirst time, a second country may exceed that level. Italy is ontrack to become the second. At one time, during MY's 1989/90through 1991/92, there was a possibility that Italy would reachthat level first, but restrictive plant health restrictionsimposed by the European Community on soybean seed prevented thatoccurrence. 

| **U.S.        Planting Seed Exports by Value**
**For        the Top 5 Export Markets by Seed Group**

**July-March 1996/97**

**Million Dollars** |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                                                                                                              | Grasses | Other 
Forages | Pulses | Vegetables | Field 
Crops | Misc. 
Kinds | Total |
| Mexico                                                                                                                                            | $8.5 | $10.2 | $6.0 | $37.9 | $99.1 | $1.2 | $162.9 |
| Italy                                                                                                                                             | $3.4 | $3.1 | $3.7 | $26.3 | $51.6 | $3.8 | $91.9 |
| Japan                                                                                                                                             | $8.6 | $5.8 | $2.0 | $13.1 | $47.1 | $5.6 | $82.3 |
| Canada                                                                                                                                            | $8.3 | $6.6 | $3.7 | $17.1 | $30.3 | $10.1 | $76.2 |
| Argentina                                                                                                                                         | $5.2 | $29.6 | $0.2 | $4.6 | $11.0 | $0.3 | $50.8 |

### U.S. Planting Seed Export Highlights

#### July-June Marketing Year 1996/97 Compared to1995/96

|                                                                                           |        |    |     |    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|---------|----------|---------|
|                                                                                           |        |    |     |
|                                                                                           |        |    |     |    |   |   |   |
|                                                                                           | 1995/96     | 1996/97 | Change   | 1995/96 | 1996/97 | Change |   |
|                                                                                           | Metric Tons | %       | $1,000   |    | % |   |
| ALL SEEDS                                                                                      | 522,162     | 903,577 | 73.0%    | 579,669 | 736,851 | 27.1% |   |
| BY KIND                                                                                        |        |    |     |    |   |   |   |
| Grasses                                                                                        | 35724       | 44263   | 23.9%    | 44260   | 56194 | 27.0% |   |
| Tall Fescue                                                                                    | 4292        | 8464    | 97.2%    | 5367    | 8891 | 65.7% |   |
| Annual Ryegrass                                                                                | 9221        | 9391    | 1.8%     | 7255    | 7340 | 1.2% |   |
| Sorghum-sudan Crosses                                                                          | 4015        | 5957    | 48.4%    | 4937    | 7177 | 45.4% |   |
| Perennial Ryegrass                                                                             | 4660        | 5154    | 10.6%    | 6054    | 6670 | 10.2% |   |
| Kentucky Bluegrass                                                                             | 1704        | 2523    | 48.1%    | 4383    | 5193 | 18.5% |   |
| Bentgrass                                                                                      | 1053        | 1375    | 30.6%    | 3094    | 4412 | 42.6% |   |
| Other Fescue                                                                                   | 1966        | 2611    | 32.8%    | 2547    | 4295 | 68.6% |   |
| Other Forages                                                                                  | 20548       | 27085   | 31.8%    | 53454   | 73090 | 36.7% |   |
| Certified Alfalfa                                                                              | 8844        | 13039   | 47.4%    | 30304   | 44693 | 47.5% |   |
| Uncertified Alfalfa                                                                            | 2297        | 3665    | 59.6%    | 6157    | 9510 | 54.5% |   |
| Red Clover                                                                                     | 871         | 1084    | 24.5%    | 1996    | 2614 | 31.0% |   |
| Crimson Clover                                                                                 | 634         | 981     | 54.7%    | 968     | 1210 | 25.0% |   |
| White & Ladino Clover                                                                      | 341         | 374     | 9.7%     | 1076    | 1177 | 9.4% |   |
| Pulses                                                                                         | 36947       | 44721   | 21.0%    | 30539   | 39905 | 30.7% |   |
| Pea                                                                                            | 17561       | 15301   | -12.9%   | 13203   | 11364 | -13.9% |   |
| Other Kidney Bean                                                                              | 2505        | 5609    | 123.9%   | 2327    | 5859 | 151.8% |   |
| Gram Bean                                                                                      | 3769        | 3451    | -8.4%    | 3999    | 4566 | 14.2% |   |
| Navy Bean                                                                                      | 2346        | 4649    | 98.2%    | 1905    | 3182 | 67.0% |   |
| Vegetables                                                                                     | 30957       | 37754   | 22.0%    | 159913  | 183728 | 14.9% |   |
| Sweet Corn                                                                                     | 7737        | 16564   | 114.1%   | 21039   | 57928 | 175.3% |   |
| Tomato                                                                                         | 987         | 1157    | 17.2%    | 17770   | 18236 | 2.6% |   |
| Onion                                                                                          | 1401        | 867     | -38.1%   | 14146   | 11062 | -21.8% |   |
| Mushroom Spawn                                                                                 | 4771        | 4144    | -13.1%   | 10916   | 8570 | -21.5% |   |
| Pepper                                                                                         | 1453        | 1523    | 4.8%     | 8114    | 8092 | -0.3% |   |
| Squash                                                                                         | 1056        | 1157    | 9.6%     | 6695    | 7580 | 13.2% |   |
| Watermelon                                                                                     | 1100        | 929     | -15.5%   | 8054    | 7320 | -9.1% |   |
| Cucumber                                                                                       | 892         | 735     | -17.6%   | 8323    | 6790 | -18.4% |   |
| Cantaloupe                                                                                     | 1028        | 863     | -16.1%   | 5177    | 5088 | -1.7% |   |
| Field Crops                                                                                    | 393445      | 746126  | 89.6%    | 250218  | 335204 | 34.0% |   |
| Field Corn                                                                                     | 71915       | 68839   | -4.3%    | 127043  | 125640 | -1.1% |   |
| Soybean                                                                                        | 120018      | 311223  | 159.3%   | 42953   | 108258 | 152.0% |   |
| Non-durum Wheat                                                                                | 86562       | 299052  | 245.5%   | 13762   | 54930 | 299.1% |   |
| Cotton                                                                                         | 16731       | 12424   | -25.7%   | 24047   | 14849 | -38.3% |   |
| Grain Sorghum                                                                                  | 44862       | 36865   | -17.8%   | 12533   | 13542 | 8.1% |   |
| Other Sunflower                                                                                | 12114       | 8474    | -30.0%   | 13767   | 11179 | -18.8% |   |
| Oil Sunflower                                                                                  | 17083       | 4073    | -76.2%   | 7533    | 4778 | -36.6% |   |
| Miscellaneous Kinds                                                                            | 4541        | 3629    | -20.1%   | 41285   | 48730 | 18.0% |   |
| Flower                                                                                         | 213         | 336     | 57.7%    | 25315   | 31237 | 23.4% |   |
| Tree and Shrub                                                                                 | 164         | 80      | -51.2%   | 2973    | 2862 | -3.7% |   |
| Sugar Beet                                                                                     | 562         | 400     | -28.8%   | 2601    | 2070 | -20.4% |   |
| BY REGION                                                                                      |        |    |     |    |   |   |   |
| European Union                                                                                 | 127821      | 127398  | -0.3%    | 207894  | 240167 | 15.5% |   |
| North America                                                                                  | 216566      | 435784  | 101.2%   | 173517  | 239100 | 37.8% |   |
| Other Asia 1/                                                                                  | 103663      | 204538  | 97.3%    | 70342   | 97418 | 38.5% |   |
| BY COUNTRY                                                                                     |        |    |     |    |   |   |   |
| Mexico                                                                                         | 157053      | 321375  | 104.6%   | 104552  | 162915 | 55.82% |   |
| Italy                                                                                          | 38539       | 45258   | 17.4%    | 76768   | 91873 | 19.7% |   |
| Japan                                                                                          | 43456       | 196615  | 352.4%   | 49180   | 82273 | 67.3% |   |
| Canada                                                                                         | 59512       | 114409  | 92.2%    | 68965   | 76185 | 10.5% |   |
| Argentina                                                                                      | 10586       | 22081   | 108.6%   | 28240   | 50819 | 80.0% |   |
| Netherlands                                                                                    | 27624       | 14962   | -45.8%   | 31453   | 32909 | 4.6% |   |
| France                                                                                         | 12990       | 15495   | 19.3%    | 26376   | 27357 | 3.7% |   |
| Greece                                                                                         | 12172       | 11276   | -7.4%    | 23193   | 27038 | 16.6% |   |
| Spain                                                                                          | 21047       | 12331   | -41.4%   | 19514   | 18678 | -4.3% |   |
| United Kingdom                                                                                 | 5096        | 13581   | 166.5%   | 10236   | 16692 | 63.1% |   |
| Saudi Arabia                                                                                   | 2668        | 5643    | 111.5%   | 7833    | 14016 | 78.9% |   |
| Germany                                                                                        | 5343        | 6259    | 17.1%    | 8806    | 11031 | 25.3% |   |
| Australia                                                                                      | 4563        | 4090    | -10.4%   | 7764    | 9069 | 16.8% |   |
| Philippines                                                                                    | 389         | 39584   | 10075.8% | 2210    | 7537 | 241.0% |   |
| Egypt                                                                                          | 1114        | 29218   | 2522.8%  | 4071    | 7393 | 81.6% |   |
| South Korea                                                                                    | 4905        | 4065    | -17.1%   | 7946    | 6939 | -12.7% |   |
| Brazil                                                                                         | 748         | 3603    | 381.7%   | 5274    | 6804 | 29.0% |   |
| Turkey                                                                                         | 1684        | 3248    | 92.9%    | 4803    | 6497 | 35.3% |   |
| Chile                                                                                          | 1688        | 2473    | 46.5%    | 4722    | 6216 | 31.6% |   |
| Portugal                                                                                       | 1211        | 1915    | 58.1%    | 3995    | 5787 | 44.9% |   |
| South Africa                                                                                   | 772         | 2289    | 196.5%   | 2891    | 5231 | 80.9% |   |
| China                                                                                          | 53792       | 1918    | -96.4%   | 9426    | 4095 | -56.6% |   |
| Colombia                                                                                       | 5614        | 1580    | -71.9%   | 4109    | 3833 | -6.7% |   |
| Austria                                                                                        | 994         | 1363    | 37.1%    | 3205    | 2719 | -15.2% |   |
| Peru                                                                                           | 1012        | 1498    | 48.0%    | 1867    | 2478 | 32.7% |   |
| United Arab Emirates                                                                           | 409         | 230     | -43.8%   | 4636    | 2379 | -48.7% |   |
| Belgium                                                                                        | 498         | 2356    | 373.1%   | 562     | 2341 | 316.5% |   |
| Hong Kong                                                                                      | 735         | 1093    | 48.7%    | 1919    | 2106 | 9.7% |   |
| Venezuela                                                                                      | 655         | 247     | -62.3%   | 2952    | 2051 | -30.5% |   |
| Pakistan                                                                                       | 1381        | 1100    | -20.3%   | 2779    | 2038 | -26.7% |   |
| Taiwan                                                                                         | 769         | 848     | 10.3%    | 1826    | 2005 | 9.8% |   |
|                                                                                           |        |    |     |    |   |   |   |
| \1 Other Asia region        includes China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macau, and        Taiwan. |
| Source: Compiled from U.S.        Bureau of Census records.                                    |        |    |     |
| Prepared by USDA/FAS/COTSD                                                                     |        |    |     |    |   |
| June 1997                                                                                      |        |    |     |    |   |   |   |

### U.S. Planting Seed Import Highlights

#### July-June Marketing Year 1996/97 Compared to1995/96

|                                                        |        |    |    |    |
|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|---------|---------|---------|
|                                                        |        |    |
|                                                        |        |    |    |    |   |   |
| July-March                                                  | 1995/96     | 1996/97 | Change  | 1995/96 | 1996/97 | Change |
|                                                        | Metric Tons | %       | $1,000  |    | % |
| ALL SEEDS                                                   | 135,578     | 137,595 | 1.5%    | 196,464 | 238,387 | 21.3% |
| BY KIND                                                     |        |    |    |    |   |   |
| Grasses                                                     | 19,270      | 27,870  | 44.6%   | 20,787  | 34,038 | 63.7% |
| Red Fescue                                                  | 11,778      | 15,644  | 32.8%   | 10,545  | 16,998 | 61.2% |
| Perennial Ryegrass                                          | 341         | 5,243   | 1437.5% | 1,315   | 7,461 | 467.4% |
| Wheatgrass                                                  | 604         | 1,143   | 89.2%   | 1,019   | 2,134 | 109.4% |
| Bromegrass                                                  | 1,114       | 956     | -14.2%  | 1,742   | 1,463 | -16.0% |
| Timothy                                                     | 2,838       | 2,258   | -20.4%  | 1,983   | 1,360 | -31.4% |
| Other Forages                                               | 11,219      | 6,744   | -39.9%  | 18,654  | 13,137 | -29.6% |
| Uncertified Alfalfa                                         | 3,118       | 2,272   | -27.1%  | 6,602   | 5,476 | -17.1% |
| Certified Alfalfa                                           | 781         | 867     | 11.0%   | 1,690   | 2,017 | 19.3% |
| Red Clover                                                  | 3,143       | 965     | -69.3%  | 4,127   | 1,617 | -60.8% |
| White and Ladino Clover                                     | 522         | 413     | -20.9%  | 1,508   | 1,009 | -33.1% |
| Pulses                                                      | 42,595      | 39,806  | -6.5%   | 17,795  | 19,457 | 9.3% |
| Pea                                                         | 12,224      | 17,863  | 46.1%   | 3,566   | 5,851 | 64.1% |
| Gram Bean                                                   | 8,402       | 7,582   | -9.8%   | 4,832   | 5,448 | 12.7% |
| Lentil                                                      | 2,343       | 2,856   | 21.9%   | 1,158   | 1,260 | 8.8% |
| Vegetables                                                  | 4,461       | 8,539   | 91.4%   | 51,456  | 68,151 | 32.4% |
| Tomato                                                      | 194         | 200     | 3.1%    | 17,006  | 17,924 | 5.4% |
| Pepper                                                      | 68          | 81      | 19.1%   | 6,109   | 10,015 | 63.9% |
| Watermelon                                                  | 182         | 296     | 62.6%   | 3,603   | 5,303 | 47.2% |
| Pumpkin                                                     | 1,250       | 2,195   | 75.6%   | 2,725   | 4,822 | 77.0% |
| Onion                                                       | 107         | 296     | 176.6%  | 4,206   | 4,242 | 0.9% |
| Cantaloupe                                                  | 32          | 65      | 103.1%  | 2,290   | 3,932 | 71.7% |
| Other Melons                                                | 140         | 137     | -2.1%   | 1,634   | 2,060 | 26.1% |
| Cabbage                                                     | 13          | 21      | 61.5%   | 1,307   | 1,949 | 49.1% |
| Cucumber                                                    | 18          | 27      | 50.0%   | 1,309   | 1,827 | 39.6% |
| Spinach                                                     | 195         | 483     | 147.7%  | 893     | 1,604 | 79.6% |
| Celery                                                      | 1,573       | 1,769   | 12.5%   | 1,243   | 1,358 | 9.3% |
| Squash                                                      | 58          | 34      | -41.4%  | 1,255   | 1,125 | -10.4% |
| Cauliflower                                                 | 14          | 12      | -14.3%  | 1,000   | 1,067 | 6.7% |
| Field Crops                                                 | 57,110      | 53,533  | -6.3%   | 45,794  | 53,796 | 17.5% |
| Field Corn                                                  | 27,943      | 31,787  | 13.8%   | 35,257  | 44,004 | 24.8% |
| Rape and Colza                                              | 5,184       | 682     | -86.8%  | 3,028   | 2,780 | -8.2% |
| Non-durum Wheat                                             | 10,556      | 8,866   | -16.0%  | 2,197   | 2,104 | -4.2% |
| Other Sunflower                                             | 1,130       | 687     | -39.2%  | 2,166   | 1,823 | -15.8% |
| Soybean                                                     | 3,639       | 2,598   | -28.6%  | 1,277   | 1,330 | 4.2% |
| Barley                                                      | 4,568       | 5,983   | 31.0%   | 883     | 1,089 | 23.3% |
| Miscellaneous Kinds                                         | 925         | 1,103   | 19.2%   | 41,978  | 49,809 | 18.7% |
| Flower                                                      | 394         | 532     | 35.0%   | 38,111  | 43,733 | 14.8% |
| Tree and Shrub                                              | 181         | 179     | -1.1%   | 1,453   | 2,907 | 100.1% |
| BY REGION                                                   |        |    |    |    |   |   |
| North America                                               | 101,594     | 94,544  | -6.9%   | 72,523  | 81,639 | 12.6% |
| European Union                                              | 4,050       | 4,177   | 3.1%    | 35,113  | 44,839 | 27.7% |
| South America                                               | 19,010      | 21,641  | 13.8%   | 31,118  | 40,288 | 29.5% |
| BY COUNTRY                                                  |        |    |    |    |   |   |
| Canada                                                      | 94,663      | 92,934  | -1.8%   | 62,491  | 70,915 | 13.5% |
| Chile                                                       | 10,018      | 12,243  | 22.2%   | 18,148  | 26,578 | 46.5% |
| Netherlands                                                 | 1,426       | 1,254   | -12.1%  | 19,603  | 21,361 | 9.0% |
| China                                                       | 5,059       | 5,601   | 10.7%   | 16,453  | 20,172 | 22.6% |
| Japan                                                       | 46          | 68      | 47.8%   | 12,025  | 11,198 | -6.9% |
| Mexico                                                      | 6,930       | 1,610   | -76.8%  | 10,032  | 10,724 | 6.9% |
| Argentina                                                   | 7,892       | 7,390   | -6.4%   | 11,462  | 10,257 | -10.5% |
| New Zealand                                                 | 1,574       | 4,481   | 184.7%  | 3,307   | 6,970 | 110.8% |
| France                                                      | 1,156       | 937     | -18.9%  | 4,084   | 6,457 | 58.1% |
| Germany                                                     | 175         | 231     | 32.0%   | 4,219   | 5,873 | 39.2% |
| India                                                       | 1,534       | 2,240   | 46.0%   | 4,870   | 5,357 | 10.0% |
| Denmark                                                     | 618         | 1,189   | 92.4%   | 3,013   | 5,087 | 68.8% |
| Australia                                                   | 878         | 2,380   | 171.1%  | 2,539   | 4,719 | 85.9% |
| Israel                                                      | 73          | 154     | 111.0%  | 4,102   | 4,326 | 5.5% |
| Guatemala                                                   | 14          | 13      | -7.1%   | 5,233   | 4,167 | -20.4% |
| Taiwan                                                      | 91          | 89      | -2.2%   | 1,628   | 3,587 | 120.3% |
| United Kingdom                                              | 181         | 158     | -12.7%  | 1,983   | 3,394 | 71.2% |
| Thailand                                                    | 401         | 485     | 20.9%   | 1,780   | 2,556 | 43.6% |
| Costa Rica                                                  | 16          | 24      | 50.0%   | 424     | 2,270 | 435.4% |
| Italy                                                       | 367         | 336     | -8.4%   | 1,885   | 2,205 | 17.0% |
| Brazil                                                      | 389         | 1,167   | 200.0%  | 600     | 2,100 | 250.0% |
| Peru                                                        | 635         | 777     | 22.4%   | 771     | 1,303 | 69.0% |
| Hungary                                                     | 359         | 563     | 56.8%   | 667     | 1,118 | 67.6% |
| Kenya                                                       | 1           | 1       | -10.1%  | 1,080   | 880 | -18.5% |
| South Korea                                                 | 9           | 13      | 44.4%   | 530     | 708 | 33.6% |
| Indonesia                                                   | 1           | ---     | -18.7%  | 230     | 471 | 104.8% |
| Hong Kong                                                   | 131         | 166     | 26.7%   | 480     | 420 | -12.5% |
| South Africa                                                | 63          | 58      | -7.9%   | 529     | 370 | -30.1% |
| Egypt                                                       | 55          | 143     | 160.0%  | 200     | 346 | 73.0% |
| Vietnam                                                     | 1           | 4       | 1030.6% | 25      | 336 | 1244.0% |
| Turkey                                                      | 316         | 123     | -61.1%  | 554     | 323 | -41.7% |
| Zimbabwe                                                    | 7           | 2       | -71.4%  | 104     | 260 | 150.0% |
| Burma                                                       | 8           | 342     | 4175.0% | 11      | 222 | 1918.2% |
|                                                        |        |    |    |    |   |   |
| --- indicates less than 500        kilograms                |        |    |    |
| Source: Compiled from U.S.        Bureau of Census records. |        |    |
| Prepared by USDA/FAS/TCSD                                   |        |    |    |    |   |
| June 1997                                                   |        |    |    |    |   |   |
|                                                        |        |    |    |    |   |   |

----

Loyd Coonrod

|                                      |
|-------------------------------------------|
| *Last modified: Wednesday, June 24, 1998* |