Notice to Exporters

FROM: Tim Rocke, Program Manager, Export Sales Reporting

SUBJECT: Export Sales Reporting Requirements

Export Sales Reporting (ESR) of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) is asking companies to meet their obligation to report export sales of specific grains, oilseeds, cotton, hides and skins, and beef.

Section 602 of the Agricultural Act of 1978, as amended by the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990, provides that “All exporters of wheat and wheat flour, feed grains, oil seeds, cotton, rice, cattle hides and skins, beef, and any products thereof, and other commodities that the Secretary may designate as produced in the United States shall report to the Secretary of Agriculture, on a weekly basis, the following information regarding any contract for export sales entered into or subsequently modified in any manner during the reporting period: (A) type, class, and quantity of the commodity sought to be exported; (B) the marketing year of shipment; and (C) destination, if known.”

Any person who knowingly fails to make any report required under this section shall be fined not more than $25,000 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

The export data is submitted to FAS/ESR either by fax or via internet. U.S. Export Sales report is published each week and covers export sales activity for the preceding reporting week (Friday through Thursday). The goal is to publish an accurate, timely and complete weekly report. This can only be accomplished through the cooperation and support of each and every exporting firm.

The U.S. Export Sales reports and regulations/instructions are located on the web if you need to review the reporting requirements or simply want to use the data to analyze market developments. Please refer to: http://www.fas.usda.gov/export-sales/esrd1.html

If you have any questions concerning your reporting requirements under this program or need to register your firm, please call (202) 720-9209.