2022 sowing seed exports contract

Preliminary data suggests a contraction trend in seed exports from countries and territories within the Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) region covering Asia and Oceania. This report analyzes direct and mirror export consignment declarations for sowing seeds categorized under HS code 1209 over a five-year period (2018-2022).

According to data logged by the International Trade Center, 34 countries and territories in the AsiaPacific region last year exported 124,499 tonnes of HS 1209 seeds valued at just over US$1.2 billion. These include seed of various types of vegetable, ornamental, horticultural, and cover crops, but exclude oilseeds, melon seeds, beet seeds, sugar cane, nuts, paddy, wheat, maize, cotton, and other field crops, seed potatoes, tubers, and bulbs.

Overall, the region last year experienced a 5% year-onyear contraction in export value compared to the peak of $1.268 billion in 2021, while seed volume declined significantly by 32.5% from the 2021 benchmark of 184,501 tonnes. These Asia and Pacific Seed Alliance (APSA) countries and territories exported 11.6% less seed volume compared to the average annual export volume of 140,777 tonnes between 2018 and 2021.

These figures indicate pentup demand for APAC seeds as pandemic-era restrictions eased in 2021. However, most countries in the region struggled to sustain seed outflows. Notable exceptions include Israel, Thailand, Indonesia, and Laos, where both value and volume exhibited growth. India, China, and Singapore performed better in terms of value but contracted in volume. Australia, Jordan, and Sri Lanka exported more seeds in 2022, although their corresponding values declined.

Data compiled and analyzed by APSA, sourced from the International Trade Center (UN, WTO, 2023). * When direct reported data is unavailable, mirror data is substituted, indicated by asterisk in this report and red font in raw data set, which can be accessed via the link in end info.

*all 2022 value, and Q2-Q4 volume = mirror data

2022 volume = mirror data

2022 figure = mirror data

All figures = mirror data

The raw data set is available in APSA members area. https://web.apsaseed.org/member/documents/market-data