WASHINGTON – For February, US chicken exports totaled 329,147 metric tons valued at $408.96 million compared to 263,875 tons valued at $294.14 million in February 2011. This represents a 24.7 percent increase in tonnage and a 39 percent increase in value, relays the April 13 Washington Report from the National Chicken Council.

Chicken parts and prepared chicken and sausages are the two subcategories within the chicken categories reporting gains in quantity and value. Chicken parts increased 30.8 percent in quantity and 47.2 percent in value. Prepared chicken and sausages increased 12.9 percent and 10.1 percent for quantity and value, respectively. Whole chicken exports decreased 71.1 percent in quantity and a 57.4 percent in value.

During January-February 2012, chicken exports totaled 591,785 metric tons valued at $737.69 million. This total is 17.1 percent more than the 505,390 tons during the first two months of 2011 and 30.8 percent above the $564.14 million achieved during the comparable two months in 2011. Chicken export subcategories during January-February that had positive positions compared to one year earlier were chicken parts and prepared chicken and sausages. Chicken parts increased 21.7 percent in quantity and 37.1 percent in value; prepared chicken and sausages increased 15.8 percent and 12.6 percent for quantity and value, respectively.

Hong Kong and Mexico were again the top two markets for chicken parts in February. Hong Kong imported 43,940 metric tons valued at $57.92 million, 6.7 percent more in volume and 0.3 percent more in value. Mexico imported 41,284 tons valued at $45.57 million, 14.6 percent more in quantity and 52.2 percent more in value.

Meanwhile, Russia, the third-largest parts market in February this year, had imports of 21,745 tons valued at $23.67 million compared with 11,459 tons valued at $10.70 million in February 2011. This represented an 89.8 percent increase in quantity and a 121.1 percent rise in value.