STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. – Last year was a record-breaking year for US poultry and egg exports. Significant gains in quantity and value were achieved across the board, according to trade data released last week by the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

The USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) supplied the following report highlights:

  • Export value of US poultry and eggs combined set a new record in 2011 of $5.1 billion, up 17 percent vs. 2010.
  • Last year, total US poultry export value set a new record, $4.91 billion, 17 percent above the total achieved in 2010.
  • Total US poultry export quantity of more than 3.9 million metric tons was the second-highest ever recorded – up nearly 6 percent, behind only 2008.
  • US broiler meat exports in 2011 – excluding chicken paws – achieved records in quantity and value, reaching 3.2 million tons valued at $3.6 billion, up from 2010 by 3 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
  • Last year, US turkey exports also registered record highs of 319,015 tons valued at $599.5 million, up 21 percent and 29 percent, respectively.
  • Chicken paw exports in 2011 totaled 346,048 metric tons, up 13 percent from 2010. Export value set a new record at $502.1 million, up 8 percent.

Although US broiler meat shipments in 2011 to several key markets, including Russia, Ukraine and Cuba, were down significantly, exports increased to other destinations, such as Hong Kong, Korea, Iraq, Mexico, Angola, and Canada which helped to drive the overall increase.

Shipments to Hong Kong increased 20 percent to 234,769 tons, while exports to South Korea jumped 54 percent to 108,154 tons. Exports to Mexico rose by 4 percent to 457,574 tons, while shipments to Canada climbed 12 percent to 142,039 tons. Exports to Angola reached 164,007 tons, up 11 percent, while shipments to Iraq (including transshipments via Turkey) were 144,983 tons, up 15 percent.

Ninety percent of the total chicken paw exports were shipped to Hong Kong, and were up 28 percent from 2010. Eight percent were shipped to China, down 41 percent from the previous year.

Total US broiler exports (including paws) in 2011 were 3.5 million tons valued at $4.2 billion, up 4 percent and 16 percent, respectively. Of the total, 43 percent went to the top five markets of Hong Kong, Mexico, Russia, Angola, and Canada.

Turkey exports to the top market for US turkey, Mexico, increased to 180,996 tons, up 24 percent. Other key markets include China, 37,588 tons, up 12 percent; Hong Kong, 17,194 tons, up 53 percent; and Canada, 10,280 tons, up 7 percent.

“We expect this growth trend will continue well into the future as our industry becomes more price-competitive, as USAPEEC continues to develop new markets for our products and as economies around the world, particularly in emerging markets, continue to grow,” said Jim Sumner, USAPEEC president.