2013 was a record-setting year for exports of US chicken and turkey, according to the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). Combined export value climbed to $5.527 billion, 1.3 per cent ahead of 2012, while export quantity was 4.1 million metric tons, up one per cent.

Meanwhile, total US egg exports last year (table eggs plus processed egg products in shell-egg equivalents) reached new records of 349 million dozen, an increase of 27 per cent, with a value of $335.4 million, also up 27 per cent from 2012.

For the first time, Mexico was the top destination for US chicken, turkey and egg exports, with combined exports reaching nearly $1.3 billion, up 16.7 per cent.

Exports of US broiler meat (excluding chicken paws) for 2013 also set records in quantity and value – 3.3 million tons valued at $4.3 billion, up one and two per cent, respectively.

Top markets for US broiler meat were Mexico, up 14 per cent to 637,049 tons; Russia, up four per cent to 276,127 tons; Angola, up 14 per cent to 206,868 tons and Canada, down two per cent to 168,793 tons.

Exports to other important markets were Iraq, 164,707 tons, up 24 per cent; Cuba, 138,933 tons, down eight per cent; China, 131,133 tons, up 38 per cent, Taiwan, 96,233 tons, down 19 per cent; Georgia, 86,280 tons, up four per cent; and Guatemala, 78,777 tons, up 12 per cent.

Exports of chicken paws in 2013 reached 299,833 tons, a decrease of 18 per cent from the previous year, while export value was $372.6 million, down 17 per cent. Of total paw shipments, 50 per cent went to China, up 3.8 per cent from 2012, and 34 per cent went to Hong Kong, down 47 per cent.

Total broiler meat (including paws) exports in 2013 were 3.6 million tons valued at $4.6 billion, 43 per cent of which went to the top five markets of Mexico, China, Russia, Angola and Hong Kong.

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

Although exports of US turkey last year slipped by five per cent to 343,814 tons, value rocketed to a record of $687 million, up by one per cent over 2012, according to FAS statistics.

As it has for more than two decades, Mexico remains the top destination for US turkey. Shipments to Mexico last year dipped by one per cent to 185,898 tons, while value rose by two per cent to $379.6 million. Exports to second-leading market China, meanwhile, fell by six per cent to 43,240 tons, while value inched up by one per cent to $71.1 million.

The top five markets of Mexico, China, Canada, the Philippines and Benin accounted for 75 per cent of total US turkey exports, with Mexico alone accounting for 54 per cent.

Figure 2. US turkey exports since 1990.
(Source: USDA/FAS GATS database)

Exports of US table eggs in 2013 were an all-time high – 187.93 million dozen valued at $184.24 million, up 47.7 and 50.4 per pent from 2012, respectively – thanks largely to increased shipments to Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong and Trinidad and Tobago.

The top markets for US table eggs in 2013 were Mexico, 62.2 million dozen, up from 17 million dozen in 2012; Hong Kong, 51.4 million dozen, up 11 per cent; Canada, 39.3 million dozen, up 50 per cent; the United Arab Emirates, 11.4 million dozen, down 11 per cent; the European Union, 8.6 million dozen, down two per cent.

For US processed egg products, 2013 was also a record year for exports, rising seven per cent over 2012 to $151.2 million. Exports to top market Japan increased by 11 per cent to $50.2 million, accounting for 33 per cent of the US total export value of egg products.

Exports to Mexico, meanwhile, rose by 129 per cent to $37.7 million, while export value to the EU decreased by 60 per cent to $15.5 million. Exports to Canada increased 50 per cent to $14.4 million, while exports to Hong Kong were up 22 per cent to $3.9 million.

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