The world has a taste for Kansas agricultural production, and the numbers prove it.

Gov. Laura Kelly announced April 27 that Kansas exported $5.35 billion in agricultural goods in 2021. This is the first time that Kansas agriculture exports exceeded $5 billion in at least a decade. Those exports were also $1.30 billion, or 32.35%, more than 2020.

“Kansans have long known that farmers, ranchers and agriculture producers are vital to our state’s economy,” Kelly said. “Kansas is a national leader in agriculture, and setting these records solidifies the important role the state also has on a global scale.”

Meat tops the list

The top export for Kansas in 2021 was meat, which made up $2.06 billion, or 54.07%, of all agriculture exports. The second was cereals, making up $1.51 billion, or 39.75%, of total agriculture exports in 2021. Other products exported include oilseed, vinegar, beverages, dairy products, milling products, fats, vegetables, flour and starch, among other products.

Even though supply chain issues affected many industries, Kansas exported agricultural products to 187 foreign markets in 2021. Mexico, Japan and China were the top three countries to purchase Kansas ag goods. Mexico bought $1.91 billion, or 44.33%, of all agriculture exports. Japan followed by purchasing $822.78 million, or 19.9%, of all Kansas agriculture exports. China was third with $701.30 million, or 16.96%, bought. South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brazil were other countries in the top 10.

“Through the work of Kansas farmers, ranchers, other agriculture producers, and ag and food processors, in partnership with our Division of Agricultural Marketing, Kansas leads in agriculture,” said Mike Beam, Kansas agriculture secretary. 

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