Even though the total quantity of US poultry exports declined modestly in 2010, the export value actually increased incrementally, according to the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC). Total US poultry exports for the year were 3.7 million metric tons, down 4.4% from the previous year, while value reached $4.2 billion, up 0.2% over 2009.
During the first eight months of 2010, the US shipped no poultry to Russia because of Russia’s import ban on US product sanitized with chlorine, while China’s anti-dumping and countervailing cases against US chicken stopped almost all shipments for the year. Russia has historically been the largest market for US chicken, with China close behind and gaining.
“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, USAPEEC president.
However, the combined value of US table eggs and processed egg product exports set a new year-on-year record in 2010, while rising to the second-highest total quantity in history. Total US egg export value in 2010 increased by nearly 4% over 2009, hitting an all-time high of $173.2 million. Total egg export quantity for the year increased to the equivalent of 206.1 million dozen, up almost 8%.
Broiler meat exports (excluding chicken paws) in 2010 were 3.1 million tons, valued at $3.13 billion, down 0.7% and 4.9% from the previous year, respectively.
Last year broiler exports to China totaled 55,821 tons, valued at $64.4 million, both down 83%. Shipments to Russia were 331,540 tons at $317.3 million, down 55% and 58%, respectively. Increased exports to markets such as Hong Kong, Angola, Mexico and others helped to make up the shortfall in shipments to Russia and China.
Exports to Hong Kong last year climbed to 197,023 tons at $259 million, up 150% and 182.5% from 2009, respectively. Exports to Angola reached 147,862 tons at $138 million, up 95% and 140%, respectively, while shipments to Mexico were 438,651 tons at $362 million, up 19% and 11%, respectively.
Broiler shipments to other markets such as South Korea, Taiwan, Georgia, Congo, Vietnam, and Japan also increased significantly from the previous year.
Broiler exports to the top five export markets – Mexico, Russia, Hong Kong, Angola, and Cuba – in 2010 totaled 1.3 million tons, a combined share of nearly 41% of the US global export total.
Chicken paw exports in 2010 reached 307,089 metric tons, a decrease of 35% from the previous year, while export value set a record at $463.6 million, up 29%. Of the total, 79%, or 243,886 tons, were shipped to Hong Kong, up 184% from 2009, while 15.5%, or 47,663 tons, were shipped to China, down 87.4% from the previous year.
Total broiler meat (including paws) exports in 2010 were 3,379,366 metric tons at $3.595 billion, down 5.2% and 1.6% from 2009, respectively. Of the total shipment, 44.4%, or 1,501,111 tons, were shipped to the top five markets, including Hong Kong, Mexico, Russia, Angola, and Cuba.
US turkey exports in 2010 were 264,354 tons at $464 million, up 9% and 18%, respectively. Exports to top market Mexico climbed to 145,618 tons at $281 million, up 21% and 33%, respectively. Shipments to China, the second-leading market, were 33,770 tons at $36.8 million, up 15% and 21%, respectively.
