US poultry exports set record first half 2011

U.S. poultry meat exports for the first half of 2011 reached $2.16 billion and increased by 2% to 1.77 million metric tons, setting a new year-on-year record in value and hitting the third-highest quantity on record, according to the latest Foreign Agricultural Service data.
For the month of June, exports of broiler meat declined by 14% to 236,416 metric tons, and value for the month fell slightly to $269.1 million. The quantity decline reflects lower shipments to such key markets as Cuba, Ukraine, Taiwan, Georgia, Angola and Ghana. Shipments increased to other markets, however, such as Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Russia. Cumulative first-half exports broiler meat were 1.41 million metric tons, down 2% from the same period in 2010. Export value was $1.6 billion, up 8%.
June turkey exports were 24,310 metric tons valued at $45.3 million, up 16% and 24%, respectively. Export value set a record for the month of June. Cumulative first-half exports reached 150,034 metric tons valued at $263.3 million, up 32% and 31% from the June 2010, respectively, both year-on-year records.
For table eggs, exports for June 2011 were 5.9 million dozen, down 4% from the same month of 2010, while export value reached $5.282 million, up 14%. Cumulative exports of table eggs for the first half of 2011 were 36.9 million dozen valued at $33.4 million, up 17% and 28% year-on-year, respectively. Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell-egg equivalents) for the first half of 2011 year were 110.4 million dozen, with an export value of $92.4 million, up 9% and 8% from the same period of 2010, respectively.