Turkey Production

A significant amount of meat from turkeys is produced each year in the world, despite the fact it is often overlooked in favor of another bird, the chicken. A sharp rise in production, imports, and exports of turkey meat has been seen from 1994 to 2003. However a decrease was seen from 2002 to 2003 in world turkey meat production, imports, and exports. World production of turkey meat in 2003 was 5,241,414 metric tons (MT), which was 141,865 MT below production in 2002 (-2.6%) and 976,428 MT above 1994's production (+22.9%.)

Presently, the United States (U.S.) leads the world in the production of turkey meat producing approximately 48.3 percent, accounting for nearly 15 percent of the U.S.'s poultry meat. U.S. turkey production is expected to increase 3 percent in 2005, especially in light of growing demand from Mexico and Taiwan for mechanically separated meat (MSM.) Following the U.S. in turkey meat production in metric tons are France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. In regards to head produced, the leading countries are the U.S., France, Germany, Italy, UK, and Brazil. Leaders by way of the percentage of turkey meat production to total poultry production are as follows: Slovakia (56.6%,) Germany (37.5%,) Italy (33.2%,) France (31.6%,) and Israel (24.6%.)

World imports and exports of turkey meat have also seen changes from 1994 to 2003 and from 2002 to 2003. Imports of turkey meat in the world were at 918,784 MT in 2003, which was 15,313 MT below 2002 (-1.6%) and 468,831 MT above 1994 (+102%.) In 2003 the leading importer of turkey meat was Mexico with 149,934 MT in 2003, accounting for 16.3 percent of the world's turkey meat imports. Most of Mexico's turkey imports come from the U.S. and are comprised of mostly turkey cuts and processed products.

The Russian Federation, Germany, China, and Belgium followed behind Mexico in world imports of turkey meat by quantity. Russia's turkey imports are forecast to decrease as market access tightens under the poultry import quota effective January 1, 2004. Under the import quota, importers are expected to place a greater emphasis on broiler meat, pushing Russian turkey imports down to 80,000 tons in 2005. In regards to turkey meat imports as a percent to total poultry imports, Benin (42.2%,) Mexico (30.8%,) Spain (26.2%,) Belgium (22.0%,) and South Africa (22.0%) led the way.

World exports of turkey meat in 2003 were at 881,512 MT, which was 62,675 MT below 2002 (-6.6%) and 362,120 MT higher than 1994 (+69.7%.) France led world exports of turkey meat by quantity at 230,818 MT in 2003, accounting for 26.2 percent of the world's turkey meat exports. Following France was the U.S., Brazil, Italy, and the Netherlands. Brazilian turkey exports are forecast at 155,000 tons an increase of 21 percent from 2004. Regarding turkey meat exports to total poultry exports the world leaders were Italy (44.9%,) France (33.6%,) Hungary (24.7%,) Poland (20.9%,) and Germany (14.1%.)
Source: FAO/USDA FAS/Newswires

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Source: USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service - 25th January 2005