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U.S. turkey exports increased in volume, value in first quarter

May 6, 2024

U.S. turkey exports increased in volume, value in first quarter, egg exports up in volume

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

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

Broiler exports for January through March this year were 846,031 metric tons, down 9.6 percent from the same period of last year, while export value reached $1.114 billion, down 3.0 percent (Figure 1). Of the total shipment, 51.6 percent or 436,657 tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Cuba, Taiwan, China, Philippines, and Guatemala.

Shipments to Mexico in January-March 2024 were 179,472 metric tons, down 2.8 percent from the same period a year earlier. During the same period, Brazilian chicken exports to Mexico were 20,448 metric tons, down 61.6 percent year over year, while Chilean chicken exports to Mexico were 4,702 metric tons, down 37.6 percent.

Exports to China decreased by 56.9 percent to 52,957 tons (of which 80.7 percent or 42,761 metric tons were chicken paws), while shipments to Cuba increased by 3.7 percent to 73,012 tons. Exports to other important markets were Taiwan, 59,830 tons, down 10.4 percent; Philippines, 35,835, up 29.5 percent; Guatemala, 35,552 tons, up 0.2 percent; Vietnam, 32,875 tons, up 20.9 percent; Canada, 31,601 tons, down 5.4 percent; United Arab Emirates, 30,073 tons, up 63.6 percent; Angola, 23,933 tons, down 15.9 percent.

Broiler exports in March 2024 were 273,001 metric tons, down 14.3 percent from the same month of last year, while export value was $362.1 million, down 9.9 percent. The decline in exports is due largely to reduced shipments to Chian and Taiwan. While exports to China decreased by 73.8 percent to 11,685 tons (of which 89.0 percent or 10,395 metric tons were chicken paws), exports to Taiwan dropped by 56.0 percent to 12,481 tons. Shipments to Mexico decreased by 10.6 percent year over year to 55,087 metric tons, while shipments to Cuba increased by 44.4 percent to 26,326 tons. While exports to Hong Kong, Georgia, Qatar Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Peru increased notably year over year, exports to South Africa, Haiti, Singapore, Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan, and Ghana decreased significantly.

Cumulative turkey exports for the first quarter of this year were 49,831 metric tons, up 29.9 percent from the same period a year earlier, while export value was $140.7 million, up 7.6 percent (Figure 2). Of the total quantity exported, 83.2 percent or 41,465 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 73.1 percent or 36,449 metric tons.

Turkey exports in March 2024 were 16,659 metric tons, up 11.3 percent from the same month of last year, while export value was $50.1 million, down 0.5 percent. Shipments to Mexico increased by 14.9 percent to 12,329 metric tons, while exports to Canada increased by 28.2 percent to 400 metric tons. Exports to Leeward-Windward Islands reached 405 metric tons, up 287 percent from the same month a year earlier. While exports to Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, New Zealand, and Japan increased notably, shipments to Peru, Jamaica, Mozambique, Haiti, and Benin decreased significantly.

Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell egg equivalent) for the first quarter of 2024 increased by 32.4 percent to 50.9 million dozen. The value of those exports decreased by 18.3 percent to $78.5 million (Figure 3).

Cumulative exports of table eggs through March this year were 21.8 million dozen, up 7.3 percent from the same period of last year, while export value was $43.4 million, down 28.3 percent. Of the total shipments, 90.2 percent or 16.9 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 March 2024 reached 9.6 million dozen, an increase of 5.5 percent from the same month a year earlier, while export value was $19.3 million, down 36.1 percent. March exports to Canada reached 7.9 million dozen, up 9.2 percent from the same month of last year. While exports to Netherlands Antilles, Hong Kong, Mexico, Micronesia, and Cuba increased notably, exports to United Kingdom, Bahamas, Taiwan, EU-27, Panama, Cayman Islands, and Leeward-Windward Islands decreased significantly.

For egg products, exports in January -March 2024 totaled 7,369 metric tons, down 2.0 percent from the same period of last year, while export value was $35.1 million, down 1.1 percent. Exports to the top six markets including Japan, EU-27, Mexico, Canada, South Korea, and Australia accounted for 86.0 percent or $30.2 million.

March exports of egg products were 2,503 metric tons, down 34.3 percent from March 2023, while export value was $10.7 million, down 24.9 percent. Export sales to Japan were $2.9 million, down 41.6 percent year over year, while exports to Mexico reached $1.8 million, up 28.3 percent. While exports to Kenya, Philippines, and Australia increased significantly, exports to EU-27, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, and United Arab Emirates decreased notably.