2010 US poultry export values reach $4.2 billion in spite of trade challenges

U.S. Exports of Table Eggs and Egg Products (in shell egg equivalent) since 1989. Source: USDA/FAS GATS database.

U.S. poultry export values reached $4.2 billion in 2010, up 0.2% over 2009 in spite of a year when Russia, historically the largest importer of U.S. chicken, banned U.S. poultry imports for the first eight months and China pursued an anti-dumping case against U.S. chicken that had exports to that country at a standstill for most of the year.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service, total U.S. poultry exports for 2010 were 3.7 million metric tons, down only 4.4% over 2009. “We would not normally tout declines in exports, but the fact that our exports declined so little, and the value of our chicken and turkey exports actually increased is a testament to our industry’s resilience and adaptability in finding new markets,” said Jim Sumner, president of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council.
The egg export market actually gained in both value and quantity in 2010, with U.S. exports of table eggs and processed egg products setting a new year-on-year record while rising to the second highest total quantity in history. Total U.S. egg export value last year increased by nearly 4% over 2009, hitting an all-time high of $173.2 million. Total egg export quantity for the year climbed to the equivalent of 206.1 million dozen, up almost 8%.