Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 8/17/11

U.S. poultry exports for the first half of 2011 set a new year-on-year record in value, while the quantity was the third-highest on record, the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council reported based on the latest USDA trade data.

First-half U.S. poultry meat exports increased by 2 percent to 1.77 million metric tons, while export value of $2.16 billion rose by 10 percent compared to the first half of 2010.

For the month of June, exports of broiler meat (excluding chicken paws) declined by 14 percent to 236,416 tons, and value for the month dipped by less than a point to $269.1 million. The quantity decline reflects lower shipments to such key markets as Cuba, Ukraine, Taiwan, Georgia, Angola and Ghana. Shipments increased to other markets, however, such as Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Russia.

Cumulative first-half exports broiler meat (excluding paws) were 1.41 million tons, down 2 percent from the same period in 2010. Export value was $1.6 billion, up 8 percent.

U.S. broiler shipments to Mexico for the first half rose by 3 percent to 225,550 tons, while exports to Hong Kong dipped by 3.7 percent to 105,944 tons. Exports to Korea jumped by 86 percent to 72,281 tons, and exports to Iraq (including transshipments via Turkey) were 68,214 tons, down 10 percent.

Exports of U.S. broiler meat to Canada were 65,283 tons, up 11 percent, while shipments to Taiwan decreased by 10 percent to 60,072 tons. Exports to Russia were 50,241 tons, up 95 percent, and shipments to China were down 12 percent to 24,765 tons.

Chicken paws
Meanwhile, exports of U.S. chicken paws in June reached 29,593 tons, up 15 percent from June 2010, but export value was $42.8 million, down by less than 1 percent. Paw shipments to Hong Kong rose by 16 percent to 25,565 tons, while exports to mainland China increased by 20 percent to 3,143 tons.

Cumulative first-half exports of paws were 165,646 tons valued at $244.6 million, up 16 and 6 percent year on year, respectively. Export value set a year-on-year record.

Turkey
As for turkey, cumulative first-half exports reached 150,034 tons valued at $263.3 million, up 32 and 31 percent from the June 2010, respectively, both year-on-year records.

June turkey exports were 24,310 tons valued at $45.3 million, up 16 percent and 24 percent, respectively. Export value set a record for the month of June.

U.S. turkey meat exports in June to Mexico, the top market, rose by 18.5 percent to 13,808 tons, while shipments to China decreased by 2.5 percent to 3,147 tons.

The increase in turkey exports to Mexico is due largely to the increased pork prices relative to turkey, which encouraged Mexican meat processors to use more turkey instead of pork.

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