U.S. grain exports hit $18.9 billion in 2015

A study commissioned by the U.S. Grains Council and National Corn Growers Association found that U.S. grain exports exports supported $55.5 billion in economic output in 2015, with the top five states being Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Kansas and Minnesota.    Exports of U.S. feed grains and related products totaled $18.9 billion in 2015, according to a study released this week by the U.S. Grains Council and National Corn Growers Association. 
   The study also found that these exports supported $55.5 billion in economic output, and are linked directly or indirectly to about 262,000 jobs.
   Furthermore, the study’s results showed that every $1 of grain exports generated supported an additional $2.19 in business sales. And every job directly created by the export of grain and grain products supported another 4.7 jobs in the United States.
   “International markets represent demand that would not exist elsewhere,” said Deb Keller, USGC chairman, in a statement. “This research highlights the important economic benefits of exports that our U.S. economy depends upon to subsist.” 
   Informa Economics conducted the study on behalf of the associations. The firm examined the economic contributions exports of corn, barley, sorghum, ethanol, distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS), corn gluten feed and meal, as well as the corn equivalent of meat on the U.S. economy. 
   The top-five grain exporting states in 2015 by value included Iowa ($3.5 billion), Illinois ($2.1 billion), Nebraska ($1.9 billion), Kansas ($1.5 billion), and Minnesota ($1.2 billion).