Grown for its edible buds which resemble miniature cabbages, global exports of Brussels sprouts by country totaled US$270.9 million in 2022.

That dollar amount reflects an average 50.3% gain for all Brussels sprouts shippers over the five-year period starting from $180.2 million in 2018.

Year over year, the value of globally exported Brussels sprouts increased by 5.6% compared to $256.6 million for 2021.

The top 3 most valuable exporters of Brussels sprouts are Mexico, Netherlands, and the United States of America. Combined, that trio of major suppliers generated over four-fifths (82.2%) of the overall international sales for Brussel sprouts during 2022. Such a high percentage highlights the concentration of Brussels sprouts exporters.

Among continents, suppliers in North America sold the highest dollar worth of exported Brussels sprouts during 2022 with shipments valued at $150.5 million or more than half (55.6%) of the worldwide total. In second place at 36.3% were exporters in Europe while another 3.9% of worldwide Brussels sprouts shipments originated from Africa.

Smaller percentages came from exporters in Latin America (2.1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Asia (1.6%), then Oceania’s (0.6%) Australia and New Zealand only.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 070420 for fresh or chilled Brussels sprouts.

Top Brussels Sprouts Exports by Country

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of Brussels sprouts during 2022.

1. Mexico: US$107.7 million (39.8% of Brussels sprout exports)
2. Netherlands: $75.2 million (27.8%)
3. United States: $39.6 million (14.6%)
4. Belgium: $11 million (4.1%)
5. Morocco: $7.7 million (2.8%)
6. Guatemala: $5.4 million (2%)
7. Iran: $3.5 million (1.3%)
8. Spain: $3.3 million (1.2%)
9. Canada: $3.2 million (1.2%)
10. Poland: $2.72 million (1%)
11. Egypt: $2 million (0.7%)
12. Italy: $1.92 million (0.7%)
13. Australia: $1.6 million (0.6%)
14. France: $1.23 million (0.5%)
15. United Kingdom: $1.21 million (0.4%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 98.6% of global Brussels sprouts exported in 2022.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing providers of Brussels sprouts since 2021 were: Spain (up 112.8%), Italy (up 37.1%), Canada (up 35.1%) and the United Kingdom (up 32.6%).

Five countries posted declines in their export sales of Brussels sprouts, namely: Poland (down -32.5% from 2021), France (down -24.4%), Belgium (down -21.5%), Australia (down -10.5%) and the Netherlands (down -2.4%).

Countries Enjoying Best Trade Surpluses from Brussels Sprouts

The following countries posted the highest positive net exports for Brussels sprouts during 2022. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the surplus between the value of each country’s exported Brussels sprouts and its import purchases for that same commodity.

1. Mexico: US$95.2 million (net export surplus up 1.7% since 2021)
2. Netherlands: $61.4 million (down -1.7%)
3. Morocco: $7.7 million (up 13.2%)
4. Belgium: $6.5 million (down -32.8%)
5. Guatemala: $5.4 million (up 20%)
6. Iran: $3.5 million (2021 data unavailable)
7. Egypt: $2 million (up 17.8%)
8. Poland: $1.6 million (down -10.4%)
9. Australia: $1.6 million (down -10.5%)
10. South Africa: $800,000 (down -52%)
11. Spain: $668,000 (reversing a -$644,000 deficit)
12. Cameroon: $166,000 (2021 data unavailable)
13. Dominican Republic: $65,000 (reversing a -$46,000 deficit)
14. Oman: $53,000 (reversing a -$1.7 million deficit)
15. mainland China: $37,000 (down -5.1%)

Mexico and the Netherlands earned the highest surpluses in the international trade of Brussels sprouts during 2022. In turn, this positive cashflow confirms strong Mexican and Dutch competitive advantages for this specific product category.

Countries Incurring Worst Trade Deficits from Brussels Sprouts

The following countries posted the highest negative net exports for Brussels sprouts during 2022. Investopedia defines net exports as the value of a country’s total exports minus the value of its total imports. Thus, the statistics below present the deficit between the value of each country’s imported Brussels sprouts purchases and its exports for that same commodity.

1. United States: -US$63.7 million (net export deficit down -0.8% since 2021)
2. Germany: -$30.5 million (up 9.6%)
3. Canada: -$24.7 million (down -0.6%)
4. France: -$9.1 million (down -9.4%)
5. United Kingdom: -$6.7 million (down -53.6%)
6. Qatar: -$4.5 million (down -4.5%)
7. Italy: -$4.3 million (up 3.2%)
8. Switzerland: -$2.3 million (down -28.7%)
9. Sweden: -$1.8 million (down -10.6%)
10. Denmark: -$1.53 million (up 6.3%)
11. Austria: -$1.46 million (down -5.9%)
12. South Korea: -$1.31 million (down -15.2%)
13. Singapore: -$1.31 million (up 11.9%)
14. Czech Republic: -$1.23 million (up 6.1%)
15. Nigeria: -$1.1 million (2021 data unavailable)

The United States of America incurred the highest deficit in the international trade of Brussels sprouts. In turn, this negative cashflow highlights America’s competitive disadvantage for this specific product category but also signals opportunities for Brussels sprouts-supplying countries that help satisfy the powerful consumer demand.

Brussels Sprouts Exporting Companies

According to global trading platform Alibaba, the following suppliers are examples of Brussels sprouts-trading exporters that deal in fresh or frozen Brussels sprouts. Canadian firm SeedsIntl.com sells Brussels sprouts seeds.

• 3SI Commerce (France)
• AA Group, S. Coop (Spain)
• Cyndacation (United States)
• Hangzhou ZGF Group Co (China)
• SeedsIntl.com (Canada)

The home-country location for each business is shown above within parentheses.
 

See also Top Lettuce Exports by Country, Tomatoes Exports by Country, Potatoes Exports by Country and Corn Exports by Country

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Products listing for Brussels sprouts. Accessed on September 20, 2023

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on September 20, 2023

Forbes Global 2000 rankings, The World’s Biggest Public Companies. Accessed on September 20, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 20, 2023

Investopedia, Net Exports Definition. Accessed on September 20, 2023

Wikipedia, Brussels sprout. Accessed on September 20, 2023