Exports
The U.S. dry bean industry is mechanized, relatively efficient, produces quality products, and is among the leaders in international trade. During the first 5 years of the 2000s, 19 percent of the U.S. dry bean supply was exported annually—the same as in the 1990s. As it has for decades, the United States experienced a dry bean trade surplus in crop year 2003/04 (September-August). The surplus (excluding guar and other seed trade) amounted to $93 million, down from $116 million in 2002/03. Leading export varieties in 2003/04 were pinto (30 percent of dry bean export value), navy (17 percent), black beans (14 percent), and Great Northern (8 percent). U.S. dry bean exports consist of commercial exports and U.S. food aid (direct donations and concessional programs).
The top four classes of exported dry beans in crop year 2003/04 were:
- Pinto beans, which led U.S. bean exports at
$44 million. The leading destinations—Haiti ($13
million), Zimbabwe ($7 million), and the Dominican Republic
($6 million)—accounted for more than half of export
value. Mexico ($4 million) is a lucrative but unsteady
market, with U.S. exports largely dependent on Mexican
production shortfalls.
- Navy (pea) beans, with exports at $26 million.
The top markets for navy beans were the United Kingdom
(U.K.) ($10 million), Djibouti ($7 million), and South
Korea ($2 million). Although navy bean exports to the
U.K. have been reduced severely the past several years
by competition with Canada, the U.K. remains a major
market for U.S. navy beans.
- Black beans, with $21 million in exports. Mexico
($18 million), Guatemala ($0.7 million), and Hong Kong
($0.4 million) were the top destinations.
- Great Northern beans, with $12 million in exports.
Iraq ($5 million), France ($2 million), and Greece ($1
million) were the major destinations.
With domestic disappearance between 6-7 pounds per person, dry beans are not a staple in the United States. Given the slowdown in domestic dry bean demand since the early 2000s, growth in the industry over the next several years may depend on increased foreign sales.
Imports
Historically, the United States has not imported large volumes of dry beans. Imports have consistently accounted for only 4-6 percent of domestic consumption over the past 20 years. However, U.S. dry bean import volume (excluding guar and other seed) jumped threefold between 1992-94 and 2002-04. The value of dry bean imports totaled $56 million in 2003/04—up 16 percent from a year earlier but well below the 2001/02 record high of $73 million. Imports now account for about 10 percent of dry bean consumption. With some notable exceptions such as black beans, imports are spread out in small volumes over several classes. During the 2000s, imports accounted for 20 percent of black bean consumption.
Most import volume appears to be split between border trade with Canada and Mexico and beans grown infrequently in the United States (mung beans for example). Mung and blackgram beans account for 16 percent of U.S. dry bean imports. Imported garbanzo beans, which come largely from Mexico, account for about a fourth of the domestic use of garbanzo beans and about 12 percent of all dry bean imports.
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