Poultry and egg exports from the United States reached a new record in value in 2013, up 3% over 2012 to $5.862 billion, according to year-end trade data released recently by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
Also, 2013 was a record-setting year for exports of US chicken and turkey. Combined export value climbed to $5.527 billion, 1.3% ahead of 2012, while export quantity was 4.1 million metric tons, up 1%.
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%.
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 1% and 2%, respectively.
Top markets for US broiler meat ranked as follows: Mexico, up 14% to 637,049 tons; Russia, up 4% to 276,127 tons; Angola, up 14% to 206,868 tons; Canada, down 2% to 168,793 tons.
Exports to other important markets were: Iraq, 164,707 tons, up 24%; Cuba, 138,933 tons, down 8%; China, 131,133 tons, up 38%; Taiwan, 96,233 tons, down 19%; Georgia, 86,280 tons, up 4%; Guatemala, 78,777 tons, up 12%.
Exports of chicken paws in 2013 reached 299,833 tons, a decrease of 18% from the previous year, while export value was $372.6 million, down 17%. Of total paw shipments, 50% went to China, up 3.8% from 2012, and 34% went to Hong Kong, down 47%.
Total broiler meat (including paws) exports in 2013 weighed in at 3.6 million tons valued at $4.6 billion, 43% of which went to the top five markets of Mexico, China, Russia, Angola, and Hong Kong.
Although exports of US turkey last year slipped by 5% to 343,814 tons, value advanced to a record of $687 million, up by 1% over 2012, according to FAS statistics.
As it has for more than two decades, Mexico remains the top destination for US turkey. Shipments to that country last year dipped by 1% to 185,898 tons, while value rose by 2% to $379.6 million. Exports to second-leading market China, meanwhile, fell by 6% to 43,240 tons, while value inched up by 1% to $71.1 million.
The top five markets of Mexico, China, Canada, the Philippines and Benin accounted for 75% of total US turkey exports, with Mexico alone accounting for 54%.
