US poultry, egg exports hit records in 2011

U.S. exports of table eggs and egg products (in shell-egg equivalents) since 1990. Source: USDA/FAS GATS database.

U.S. poultry and egg exports reached record highs in 2011, with a combined export value of $5.1 billion, a 17 percent increase over 2010, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service. Total U.S. poultry exports were more than 3.9 million metric tons (a record value of $4.91 billion), up 6 percent from 2010 and the second-highest ever behind only 2008 numbers. Broiler meat and turkey exports both reached record numbers, at 3.2 million metric tons and 319,015 metric tons, respectively. Broiler numbers were up 3 percent from 2010, while turkey was up 21 percent, according to Foreign Agriculture Service data. U.S. egg exports in 2011 hit 220.5 million dozen, up 7 percent from 2010 and the second-highest on record. These exports came to a value of $194.7 million, up 12 percent, a new record high. Although U.S. broiler meat shipments in 2011 to several key markets, Russia, Ukraine and Cuba included, were down significantly, increased exports to other destinations, such as Hong Kong, Korea, Iraq, Mexico, Angola and Canada, helped to drive the overall increase. Shipments to Hong Kong increased 20 percent to 234,769 metric tons, while exports to Korea jumped 54 percent to 108,154 metric tons. Exports to Mexico rose by 4 percent to 457,574 metric tons, while shipments to Canada climbed 12 percent to 142,039 metric tons. Exports to Angola reached 164,007 metric tons, up 11 percent, while shipments to Iraq were 144,983 metric tons, up 15 percent. Turkey exports to Mexico, the top market for U.S. turkey, climbed to 180,996 metric tons, up 24 percent. Other key markets include China, 37,588 metric tons, up 12 percent; Hong Kong, 17,194 metric tons, up 53 percent; and Canada, 10,280 metric tons, up 7 percent. Of the total U.S. turkey meat exports, 79 percent went to the top five markets, with shipments to Mexico alone accounting for 57 percent. For table eggs, exports in 2011 were 82.8 million dozen valued at $77 million, up 12 percent and 28 percent, respectively, thanks largely to increased shipments to Hong Kong and Japan. Export value reached an all-time high. Of total shipments, 86 percent were shipped to the top five export markets — Hong Kong, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Netherlands Antilles. Export value of U.S. processed egg products in 2011 set a record at $117.7 million, up 4 percent from 2010. Shipments to Japan, the top export market for U.S. egg products, rose by 55 percent to $62.3 million, accounting for 53 percent of the total global export value. Export value to the EU declined by 40 percent to $20.405 million, while export value to Canada decreased 20 percent to $8.164 million. Export value to the top five markets totaled accounted for 84 percent of the total.