Import and exports of canned beans showed strong increases in the first month of 2015 despite overall volume and dollar values being mixed.
January imports for shelled beans increased 5% in volume to about 7.3 million-lbs. with a 15% increase in dollar value to $4.3 million. The month’s imports for non-shelled beans was 2.2 million-lbs., a gain of 8% in volume from the same month in the previous year while dropping 3% in dollar to $1.1 million.
Three categories of exported beans showed double digit increases in volume and in two of the three dollar values. Exports for dried shelled beans rose 40% in volume and 42% in dollar value in a year-to-date comparison ending Jan. 31. About 3.5 million-lbs. were exported compared with 2.5 million-lbs. in 2013. The total cost was about $1.9 million, up from $1.3 million in 2013.
Non-shelled beans exports jumped 53% in volume to 961,000-lbs. and 38% in dollar to $473,000. Exports for shelled beans grew 14% in volume and 4% in dollar value for the month with 1.6 million-lbs. exported for a total cost of about $818,000.
Imports overall for canned vegetables decreased 2% in volume to 51.0 million-lbs. and 4% in dollar value to about $44.3 million for January. Total exports finished at 35.9 million-lbs. for the first month of 2015, a 2% increase, costing a total $24.2 million, up 1%.