News

Broiler Exports Declined in 2024 as Eggs, Turkey Posted Gains

February 6, 2025

U.S. broiler exports in 2024 decreased by 10.5 percent in volume and 1.0 percent in value from 2023. Turkey exports decreased by 0.7 percent in volume but increased by 7.0 percent in value, while egg exports decreased by 4.5 percent in volume but rose by 5.9 percent in value, 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, Vietnam, Angola, Ghana, Canada, Dominican Republic, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Colombia, Gambia, Turkmenistan, Mauritania, and Qatar registered tremendous gains in broiler exports from the same period a year earlier.

Broiler exports in 2024 were 3,251,270 metric tons, down 10.5 percent from 2023, while export value was $4.689 billion, down 1.0 percent (Figure 1). Of the total shipment, 51.6 percent or 1,676,137 tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Cuba, Taiwan, Philippines, China, and Canada.

Mexico led all other U.S. broiler export markets in both volume and value despite increased competition with Brazil in the market. Exports to Mexico in 2024 set a record in both volume and value. Export volume reached 730,906 metric tons, up 1.3 percent from 2023, while export value hit $937.4 million, up 15.6 percent. Brazilian chicken exports to Mexico in 2024 reached 212,128 metric tons, up 23.3 percent from 2023, while Chilean chicken exports to Mexico in 2024 were 22,677 metric tons, down 11.3 percent.

Exports to China decreased by 60.7 percent to 158,649 tons (of which 71.1 percent or 112,855 metric tons were frozen raw chicken paws). Shipments to Cuba decreased by 3.1 percent to 252,531 tons, while exports to Taiwan dropped by 23.1 percent to 209,162 tons. Exports to other important markets were Philippines, 168,783 tons, down 2.1 percent; Canada, 156,106 tons, up 8.0 percent; Guatemala, 138,727 tons, down 3.6 percent; Vietnam, 136,594 tons, up 19.3 percent; Angola, 118,711 tons, up 14.3 percent; Hong Kong, 82,948 tons, up 41.3 percent.

Broiler exports in December 2024 were 254,228 metric tons, down 17.9 percent from the same month of 2023, while export value was $391.0 million, down 1.7 percent. Shipments to Mexico decreased by 4.3 percent year over year to 58,829 metric tons, while exports to China decreased by 4.1 percent to 13,463 tons (of which 56.3 percent or 7,582 metric tons were frozen raw chicken paws). Exports to Taiwan decreased by 28.8 percent to 21,173 tons, while shipments to Cuba declined by 23.8 percent to 20,619 tons. While exports to Colombia, Vietnam, Peru, Mauritania, Canada, Turkmenistan, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Kuwait increased notably, exports to Congo (Brazzaville), Philippines, Georgia, UAE, Hong Kong, Angola, South Africa, and Iraq decreased significantly.

Turkey exports in 2024 were 220,566 metric tons, down 0.7 percent from 2023, while export value reached $672.8 million, up 7.0 percent (Figure 2). Of the total quantity exported, 82.8 percent or 182,647 metric tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Leeward-Windward Islands, with Mexico alone accounting for 75.2 percent or 165,888 metric tons.

Turkey exports in December 2024 were 16,477 metric tons, down 14.5 percent from December 2023, while export value reached $55.8 million, up 10.2 percent. Shipments to Mexico decreased by 5.5 percent to 12,291 metric tons, while exports to Chile reached 498 metric tons, as compared to 42 metric tons for the same month a year earlier. Exports to Canada were 418 metric tons, down 39.9 percent year over year. While exports to Panama, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Congo (Kinshasa), and Colombia increased notably year over year, shipments to Leeward-Windward Islands, Haiti, Gabon, South Africa, South Korea, Benin, Taiwan, Japan, Jamaica, and Hong Kong decreased significantly.

Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell egg equivalent) in 2024 decreased by 4.5 percent to 172.8 million dozen. The value of those exports increased by 5.9 percent to $314.2 million (Figure 3).

Table egg exports in 2024 were 84.3 million dozen, down 5.8 percent from 2023, while export value reached $198.5 million, up 22.3 percent. Of the total shipments, 90.3 percent or 76.1 million dozen were shipped to the top six export markets, namely Canada, Bahamas, Netherlands Antilles, Mexico, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Cayman Islands.

Table egg exports for December 2024 were 9.1 million dozen, up 15.2 percent from the same month a year earlier, while export value reached $22.8 million, up 59.8 percent. December exports to Canada hit 6.6 million dozen, up 29.0 percent year over year, while exports to Bahamas reached 1.0 million dozen, up 91.9 percent. While exports to Turks and Caicos Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Cayman Islands increased notably, shipments to Mexico, Hong Kong, and Leeward-Windward Islands decreased significantly.

For egg products, exports in 2024 were 24,834 metric tons, down 16.7 percent from 2023, while export value was $115.7 million, down 13.9 percent. Exports to the top six markets including Japan, Mexico, EU-27, Canada, South Korea, and Bahamas accounted for 85.5 percent or $98.9 million.

Exports of egg products in December 2024 were 1,888 metric tons, down 32.9 percent from the same month of 2023, while export value was $10.1 million, down 24.2 percent. Export sales to Japan were $3.7 million, up 3.8 percent from December 2023, while export value to Mexico reached $3.6 million, up 33.7 percent year over year. While export sales to Trinidad and Tobago, UAE, and Thailand increased notably, export value to EU-27, Canada, South Korea, and Colombia decreased significantly. -- By Dr. Renan Zhuang