2013 a record year for exports of US poultry and eggs

U.S. broiler (including paws) exports since 1990. Source: USDA/FAS GATS database
U.S. poultry and egg exports reached a new record in value in 2013, up 3 percent over 2012 to $5.862 billion, according to year-end trade data released recently by the USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Also, 2013 was a record-setting year for exports of U.S. chicken and turkey. Combined export value climbed to $5.527 billion, 1.3 percent ahead of 2012, while export quantity was 4.1 million metric tons, up 1 percent.
Meanwhile, total U.S. 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 percent, with a value of $335.4 million, also up 27 percent from 2012.
For the first time, Mexico was the top U.S. chicken, turkey and egg exporter, with combined exports reaching nearly $1.3 billion, up 16.7 percent.
Exports of U.S. 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 percent, respectively.
Top markets for U.S. broiler meat were Mexico, up 14 percent to 637,049 tons; Russia, up 4 percent to 276,127 tons; Angola, up 14 percent to 206,868 tons; and Canada, down 2 percent to 168,793 tons.
Exports to other important markets were Iraq, 164,707 tons, up 24 percent; Cuba, 138,933 tons, down 8 percent; China, 131,133 tons, up 38 percent, Taiwan, 96,233 tons, down 19 percent; Georgia, 86,280 tons, up 4 percent; and Guatemala, 78,777 tons, up 12 percent.
Exports of chicken paws in 2013 reached 299,833 tons, a decrease of 18 percent from the previous year, while export value was $372.6 million, down 17 percent. Of total paw shipments, 50 percent went to China, up 3.8 percent from 2012, and 34 percent went to Hong Kong, down 47 percent.


U.S. exports of table eggs and egg products (in shell egg equivalents) since 1990. Source: USDA/FAS GATS database. 
Total broiler meat (including paws) exports in 2013 were 3.6 million tons valued at $4.6 billion, 43 percent of which went to the top five markets of Mexico, China, Russia, Angola, and Hong Kong.
Although exports of U.S. turkey last year slipped by 5 percent to 343,814 tons, value rocketed to a record of $687 million, up by 1 percent over 2012, according to FAS statistics.
As it has for more than two decades, Mexico remains the top destination for U.S. turkey. Shipments to Mexico last year dipped by 1 percent to 185,898 tons, while value rose by 2 percent to $379.6 million. Exports to second-leading market China, meanwhile, fell by 6 percent to 43,240 tons, while value inched up by 1 percent to $71.1 million.
The top five markets of Mexico, China, Canada, the Philippines and Benin accounted for 75 percent of total U.S. turkey exports, with Mexico alone accounting for 54 percent.
Exports of U.S. table eggs in 2013 were an all-time high - 187.93 million dozen valued at $184.24 million, up 47.7 and 50.4 percent from 2012, respectively - thanks largely to increased shipments to Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The top markets for U.S. 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 percent; Canada, 39.3 million dozen, up 50 percent; the U.A.E., 11.4 million dozen, down 11 percent; the European Union, 8.6 million dozen, down 2 percent.
For U.S. processed egg products, 2013 was also a record year for exports, rising 7 percent over 2012 to $151.2 million. Exports to top market Japan increased by 11 percent to $50.2 million, accounting for 33 percent of the U.S. total export value of egg products.
Exports to Mexico, meanwhile, rose by 129 percent to $37.7 million, while export value to the EU decreased by 60 percent to $15.5 million. Exports to Canada increased 50 percent to $14.4 million, while exports to Hong Kong were up 22 percent to $3.9 million.