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Turkey exports up in volume, value

April 8, 2024

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

While U.S. total broiler exports through February were down in volume due largely to decreased shipments to China, other export markets such as Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, Georgia, Qatar, Suriname, and Peru showed tremendous gains in broiler exports from the same month a year ago.

Broiler exports for the first two months of this year were 573,029 metric tons, down 7.2 percent from the same period of last year, while export value reached $751.8 million, up 0.7 percent (Figure 1). Of the total shipment, 53.5 percent or 306,580 tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Taiwan, Cuba, China, Guatemala, and Philippines.

Shipments to Mexico in January-February 2024 were 124,385 metric tons, up 1.1 percent from the same period a year earlier. During the same period, Brazilian chicken exports to Mexico were 7,051 metric tons, down 74.4 percent year over year, while Chilean chicken exports to Mexico were 3,216 metric tons, down 24.4 percent.

Exports to China decreased by 47.4 percent to 41,272 tons (of which 78.4 percent or 32,366 metric tons were chicken paws), while shipments to Taiwan increased by 23.3 percent to 47,349 tons. Exports to other important markets were Cuba, 46,687 tons, down 10.5 percent; Guatemala, 24,395 tons, up 2.7 percent; Philippines, 22,494, up 53.1 percent; United Arab Emirates, 21,356 tons, up 77.2 percent; Canada, 20,599 tons, down 3.6 percent; Vietnam, 19,245 tons, up 17.7 percent; Angola, 15,974 tons, down 22.9 percent.

Broiler exports in February 2024 were 271,829 metric tons, down 10.5 percent from the same month of last year, while export value was $365.0 million, down 1.9 percent. Shipments to Mexico increased by 2.3 percent year over year to 61,325 metric tons, while exports to China decreased by 45.0 percent to 20,909 tons (of which 75.9 percent or 15,869 metric tons were chicken paws). Exports to Taiwan dropped by 6.4 percent to 19,106 tons, while shipments to Cuba decreased by 29.8 percent to 16,097 tons. While exports to Qatar, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, Suriname, Angola, Gabon, and Peru increased notably year over year, exports to Congo (Brazzaville), South Africa, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mauritania, Haiti, Kazakhstan, and Benin decreased significantly.

Cumulative turkey exports for the first two months of this year were 33,172 metric tons, up 142 percent from the same period a year earlier, while export value was $90.5 million, up 113 percent (Figure 2). Of the total quantity exported, 83.2 percent or 27,585 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 72.7 percent or 24,120 metric tons.

Turkey exports in February 2024 were 16,524 metric tons, up 146 percent from the same month of last year, while export value was $45.8 million, up 120 percent. Shipments to Mexico increased by 148 percent to 12,353 metric tons, while exports to Canada increased by 125 percent to 489 metric tons. Exports to South Africa reached 405 metric tons, as compared to 45 metric tons for the same month a year earlier. While exports to Haiti, Japan, Costa Rica, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Chile increased notably, shipments to Jamaica, Panama, Ghana, and Equatorial Guinea decreased significantly.