Export quantity of all poultry meat in February reached 290,261 metric tons, up 15 per cent, with a value of $338.7 million, up 18 per cent. Cumulative January-February poultry export quantity rose by 11 per cent to 554,769 tons, while value increased by 13 per cent to $648.5 million over combined totals for the two months last year.

Meanwhile, US turkey exports set an all-time record for both quantity and value in February, and the export value of US chicken paws was also a record for the month.

Broiler highlights

For broiler meat (excluding chicken paws), February shipments totalled 233,112 tons valued at $245.5 million, up 12 and 14 per cent, respectively, over February 2010, despite declines in exports to several markets, including Viet Nam, China, Cuba, Angola and Congo. US exporters increased shipments to numerous other markets, including Mexico, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea and Iraq, which helped to drive the overall increase.

Shipments to Mexico rose by 11 per cent to 37,678 metric tons, while exports to Hong Kong reached 17,809 tons, up 10 per cent. February exports to Taiwan hit 14,579 tons, up 44 per cent, while shipments to South Korea jumped to 10,151 tons, up 97 per cent year on year. Exports to Iraq and Russia reached 12,084 and 11,747 tons, up 23 and 12 per cent, respectively.

Helping the total for February were significantly stronger shipments to smaller markets, such as the Philippines, the UAE, the Republic of Georgia, Canada, Haiti, Singapore, Chile, Jamaica, Ghana and Japan.

Cumulative exports of US broiler meat (excluding paws) for January and February were 442,899 tons, with an export value of $464.9 million, up six and eight per cent, respectively, from the same period a year earlier.

For chicken paws, February exports were 26,045 tons, valued at $39.6 million, up 30 and 25 per cent, respectively, from the same month last year. The export value of US paws in February was the highest ever recorded. Of total paw exports, 90 per cent or 23,492 tons were shipped to Hong Kong, an increase of 56 per cent, while eight per cent landed in mainland China, down 32 per cent year-on-year.

Cumulative January-February exports of chicken paws were 53,594 tons, valued at $81.6 million, up 30 and 25 per cent year-on-year, respectively. Export value for the two months set a year-on-year record, while export quantity was the third highest ever.

Total broiler meat (including paws) exports for the first two months this year were 496,493 metric tons at $546.5 million, up eight and 10 per cent from the same period a year earlier, respectively (Figure 1). Of the total shipment, 46 per cent or 229,730 tons were shipped to the top five markets, including Hong Kong, Mexico, Taiwan, Angola and Canada.

Figure 1. US broiler (including paws) exports in January-February since 1990
Source: USDA/FAS GATS database

Turkey highlights

For US turkey, February exports were 24,123 tons valued at $41.5 million, up 37 and 35 per cent, respectively. Both quantity and value were records for the month of February, thanks to increased shipments to Mexico, China and Taiwan.

Exports to Mexico – the top US turkey market – climbed to 13,672 tons valued at $26.1 million, up 44 and 40 per cent year-on-year, respectively. Shipments to China, the second leading market, reached 3,711 tons at $3.8 million, up 134 and 143 per cent, respectively. Exports to other important export markets such as Taiwan, Canada, Bahamas and Jamaica also increased significantly.

Cumulative January-February turkey exports set new records of 45,719 tons, valued at $78.6 million, up 42 and 36 per cent, respectively (Figure 2). Of the total exports, 80 per cent went to the top five markets, including Mexico, China, Hong Kong, Philippines and Taiwan, with Mexico alone accounting for 58.8 per cent.

The increase in turkey exports to Mexico is largely attributable to higher pork prices relative to turkey, which is particularly attractive to Mexican meat processors.

Figure 2. US turkey exports in January-February since 1990
Source: USDA/FAS GATS database.

Table egg highlights

For table eggs, exports for February 2011 were 3.82 million dozen, valued at $3.211 million, down 10 and seven per cent year-on-year, respectively, which is mainly attributable to decreased shipments to Canada, the UAE and Israel. Increased shipments to other export markets such as Hong Kong, Mexico and the EU-27 helped boost the total.

Cumulative exports of US table eggs for the first two months of 2011 were 7.808 million, down three per cent from the same period a year earlier, while cumulative export value was $6.639 million, up two per cent year-on-year. Of the total shipments, 83 per cent or 6.453 million dozen were shipped to the top five export markets, namely Hong Kong, UAE, Canada, Netherlands Antilles and Mexico.

Egg products highlights

For US processed egg products, February exports were 3,014 tons at $7.763 million, down 15 and 25 per cent from February 2010, respectively, attributable to declines in shipments to several key markets, including the EU. Exports to Japan, the top export market for US egg products, increased 76 per cent to $3.865 million, accounting for 46 per cent of US total export value of egg product for the month.

Cumulative exports of egg products for the first two months of 2011 were 5,602 tons at $15.85 million, down 17 and 18 per cent year-on-year.

Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell-egg equivalents) for the first two months this year were 31.423 million dozen, up eight per cent, while export value was $22.489 million, down 13 per cent year over year (Figure 3).

Figure 3. US exports of table eggs and egg products (in shell-egg equivalents) in January-February since 1990
Source: USDA/FAS GATS database.