News

Turkey, egg exports post gains

June 13, 2024

U.S. turkey exports for the first four months of this year increased in volume and value from the same period last year and egg exports registered gain in volume, but broiler exports decreased, according to new trade data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.

While U.S. total broiler exports were down due largely to decreased shipments to China, other export markets such as Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iraq, Vietnam, Georgia, Peru, Philippines, Gabon, Guatemala, Mexico, Oman, Cuba, and Suriname showed tremendous gains in broiler exports from the same period a year earlier.

Broiler exports for January through April this year were 1,107,334 metric tons, down 11.1 percent from the same period of last year, while export value was $1.483 billion, down 4.8 percent (Figure 1). Of the total shipment, 46.5 percent or 514,995 tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Cuba, Taiwan, China, Guatemala, and Philippines.

Shipments to Mexico in January-April 2024 were 239,960 metric tons, up 1.3 percent from the same period a year earlier. During the same period, Brazilian chicken exports to Mexico were 39,405 metric tons, down 43.4 percent year over year, while Chilean chicken exports to Mexico were 6,500 metric tons, down 15.6 percent.

Exports to China decreased by 60.2 percent to 66,336 tons (of which 81.7 percent or 54,210 metric tons were chicken paws), while shipments to Cuba increased by 2.9 percent to 88,152 tons. Exports to other important markets were Taiwan, 72,895 tons, down 29.0 percent; Guatemala, 47,652 tons, up 6.7 percent; Philippines, 47,235, up 12.0 percent; Canada, 43,573 tons, down 2.1 percent; Vietnam, 41,836 tons, up 15.5 percent; United Arab Emirates, 38,132 tons, up 48.6 percent; Angola, 34,015 tons, down 7.2 percent.

Broiler exports in April 2024 were 261,303 metric tons, down 15.6 percent from the same month of last year, while export value was $369.0 million, down 9.7 percent. The decline in exports is due largely to reduced shipments to Chian and Taiwan. While exports to China decreased by 69.4 percent to 13,380 tons (of which 85.6 percent or 11,449 metric tons were chicken paws), exports to Taiwan dropped by 63.6 percent to 13,065 tons. Shipments to Mexico increased by 15.8 percent year over year to 60,488 metric tons, while shipments to Cuba decreased by 0.8 percent to 15,140 tons. While exports to Colombia, Hong Kong, Iraq, Guatemala, Angola, Mauritania, and Sierra Leone increased notably year over year, exports to South Africa, Philippines, Singapore, Georgia, Benin, Kazakhstan, Congo (Kinshasa), and Jamaica decreased significantly.

Cumulative turkey exports for the first four months of this year reached 68,365 metric tons, up 26.6 percent from the same period a year earlier, while export value was $196.3 million, up 9.9 percent (Figure 2). Of the total quantity exported, 85.0 percent or 58,083 metric tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Canada, Leeward-Windward Islands, South Africa, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic, with Mexico alone accounting for 75.8 percent or 68,365 metric tons.

Turkey exports in April 2024 were 18,533 metric tons, up 18.5 percent from the same month of last year, while export value was $55.6 million, up 16.1 percent. Shipments to Mexico increased by 57.4 percent to 15,369 metric tons, while exports to Canada decreased by 24.7 percent to 494 metric tons. While exports to Japan, El Salvador, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, and Costa Rica increased notably, shipments to Gabon, Peru, Guatemala, Mozambique, Benin, Panama, Vietnam, Jamaica, and Congo (Brazzaville) decreased significantly.

Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell egg equivalent) for the first four months of 2024 increased by 21.7 percent to 63.5 million dozen. The value of those exports decreased by 21.9 percent to $95.5 million (Figure 3).

Cumulative exports of table eggs from January to April this year were 26.0 million dozen, down 5.8 percent from the same period of last year, while export value was $52.2 million, down 31.8 percent. Of the total shipments, 89.7 percent or 23.4 million dozen were shipped to the top six export markets, namely Canada, Bahamas, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico, Hong Kong, and Cayman Islands.

Table egg exports for April 2024 were 4.2 million dozen, a decrease of 42.0 percent from the same month a year earlier, while export value was $8.8 million, down 44.7 percent. April exports to Canada were 2.4 million dozen, down 46.8 percent from the same month of last year. While exports to the Bahamas, Peru, Turks and Caicos Islands, Barbados, and Micronesia increased notably, exports to United Kingdom, Mexico, Taiwan, EU-27, Hong Kong, El Salvador, and Caymen Islands decreased significantly.

For egg products, exports for January-April 2024 totaled 9,406 metric tons, down 12.5 percent from the same period of last year, while export value was $43.3 million, down 5.3 percent. Exports to the top six markets including Japan, EU-27, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, and Australia accounted for 86.1 percent or $37.3 million.

April exports of egg products were 2,037 metric tons, down 36.9 percent from April 2023, while export value was $8.2 million, down 20.0 percent. Export sales to Japan were $3.5 million, down 32.1 percent year over year, while exports to Canada were $1.1 million, down 14.7 percent. While exports to South Korea, Central Africa Republic, Philippines, Panama, and United Arab Emirate increased significantly, exports to EU-27, Mexico, Bahamas, Kuwait, and Netherland Antilles decreased notably. -- By Dr. Renan Zhuang