Hay exports down

Hay exports down

After setting a record in February, March U.S. alfalfa hay exports declined slightly, according to USDA’s Foreign Ag Service. March exports totaled 138,464 metric tons, bringing the 2012 three-month total to 448,937 metric tons.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) imported 40,027 metric tons of U.S. alfalfa hay in March, topping the list of foreign buyers for the month, and bringing its three-month total to 127,034 metric tons.

Japan, the leading U.S. alfalfa hay market, imported 36,821 metric tons in March, for a three-month total of 136,292 metric tons, about 30% of the U.S. Y-T-D total. China, South Korea and Oman rounded out the top five markets in March.

U.S. exports of other hay in March totaled 153,083 metric tons, for a three-month total to 454,780 metric tons. Japan imported 274,972 metric tons of other hay from the U.S. during the first three months of 2012, or nearly 60% of the total. South Korea, China, Taiwan and UAE rounded out the top five markets for other hay in March