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The United States is the world's second-largest exporter of broiler meat behind Brazil. Between 2004 and 2008, exports ranged from 4.8 to 7.0 billion pounds, which accounted for between 14 and 17 percent of total production.

Demand for U.S. broiler products has fluctuated over the last several years because of changing economic conditions and currency exchange rates in major importing countries. The largest importers of U.S. broiler products are Russia, China (including Hong Kong), and Mexico. Together, these markets accounted for over half of U.S. broiler product exports, on a quantity basis.

The United States imports only small amounts of broiler products, accounting for less than 1 percent of domestic production.

The United States is also the world's largest exporter of turkey products. U.S. turkey exports total between 500 and 600 million pounds. Less than 1 percent of turkey exports are as whole birds; the majority of shipments are lower-valued turkey parts or ground or mechanically deboned meat (MDM). Many importing countries mix the ground or MDM turkey meat with other meats in sausage production.

Mexico is by far the largest importer of U.S. turkey meat, accounting for over half of U.S. turkey exports. The United States imports only a small amount of turkey products, with most imported products coming from Canada.

There are three categories of U.S. egg exports, as follows:

  • Table eggs for consumption mostly go to Canada and Mexico.
  • Shell eggs for hatching (for egg laying-type birds or broiler-type birds), and shipments are primarily to Canada and Hong Kong.
  • Egg products (dried and nondried albumin and dried and nondried yolk) form the third category.

These products are used mainly in restaurants and in the baking and prepared-foods industries. Major destinations for U.S. exports of dried albumin are Japan, Spain, and Israel, while Canada is the largest importer of nondried albumin. Japan, Mexico, and Canada are the top destinations for dried yolk, while Japan, Canada, and South Korea are the top importers of nondried yolk.

Last updated: Monday, May 28, 2012

For more information contact: David Harvey