Compared to the first quarter of 2011, January-March export quantity of poultry meat reached 984,947 metric tons, up 14 %, while the value of those shipments climbed to $1.302 billion, up 27%, both of which are all-time records.
US poultry exports for the month of March also set quantity and value records, reaching 339,220 tons valued at $459.4 million, up 9.3% and 21.8%, respectively, over March 2011. Monthly exports of broiler meat -- excluding chicken paws - for the month were 269,755 tons, up seven percent from March 2011, while export value rose to $343.2 million, up 23%, fueled by increased shipments to Cuba, Russia, Mexico and Kazakhstan.
For the first quarter, broiler meat (excluding paws) exports were 787,722 tons valued at $796.3 million, up respectively by 14 and 31 percent. First-quarter broiler meat shipments to Mexico, the top market for U.S. poultry, rose by 11% year over year to 128,274 metric tons, while exports to Russia increased 91% percent to 52,968 tons. Exports to Cuba climbed four-fold to 45,072 tons, while shipments to Taiwan rose by nine percent to 40,962 tons.
Exports to other important markets in the first quarter were Hong Kong, 37,226 tons, down 34%; Canada, 35,965 tons, up 11%; Iraq (including transshipments via Turkey) 35,875 tons, up seven percent; Angola, 26,557 tons, down eight percent; South Korea, 22,141 tons, down 20%; and Kazakhstan, 21,443 tons, up nine-fold year on year.
Exports of US chicken paws in March reached were 35,472 tons valued at $48.3 million, up 43% and 33% percent from March 2011, respectively. While shipments to Hong Kong rose by 36.2% to 31,419 tons, exports to mainland China soared by 169.4% to 3,793 tons. First-quarter exports of chicken paws reached 101,544 tons at $134.5 million, up 29% and 14% year on year, respectively. Export value set a year-on-year record, while export quantity was slightly lower than the record set in 2008.
Not to be left out, US turkey meat exports rose by nine percent in March to 29,111 tons over March 2011, while value jumped by 24% to $57.8 million. Both export quantity and value set records for the month. Cumulative first-quarter 2012 turkey exports also set records for quantity and value, reaching 82,053 tons valued at $160.5 million, respective increases of 13% and 28% from the same period a year earlier. Exports to top market Mexico climbed to 46,947 tons at $98.8 million, up 13% and 25% year on year, respectively. Moreover, the top five markets accounted for 79% of U.S. turkey meat exports for the first quarter, with Mexico alone taking 57%.
US poultry exports for the month of March also set quantity and value records, reaching 339,220 tons valued at $459.4 million, up 9.3% and 21.8%, respectively, over March 2011. Monthly exports of broiler meat -- excluding chicken paws - for the month were 269,755 tons, up seven percent from March 2011, while export value rose to $343.2 million, up 23%, fueled by increased shipments to Cuba, Russia, Mexico and Kazakhstan.
For the first quarter, broiler meat (excluding paws) exports were 787,722 tons valued at $796.3 million, up respectively by 14 and 31 percent. First-quarter broiler meat shipments to Mexico, the top market for U.S. poultry, rose by 11% year over year to 128,274 metric tons, while exports to Russia increased 91% percent to 52,968 tons. Exports to Cuba climbed four-fold to 45,072 tons, while shipments to Taiwan rose by nine percent to 40,962 tons.
Exports to other important markets in the first quarter were Hong Kong, 37,226 tons, down 34%; Canada, 35,965 tons, up 11%; Iraq (including transshipments via Turkey) 35,875 tons, up seven percent; Angola, 26,557 tons, down eight percent; South Korea, 22,141 tons, down 20%; and Kazakhstan, 21,443 tons, up nine-fold year on year.
Exports of US chicken paws in March reached were 35,472 tons valued at $48.3 million, up 43% and 33% percent from March 2011, respectively. While shipments to Hong Kong rose by 36.2% to 31,419 tons, exports to mainland China soared by 169.4% to 3,793 tons. First-quarter exports of chicken paws reached 101,544 tons at $134.5 million, up 29% and 14% year on year, respectively. Export value set a year-on-year record, while export quantity was slightly lower than the record set in 2008.
Not to be left out, US turkey meat exports rose by nine percent in March to 29,111 tons over March 2011, while value jumped by 24% to $57.8 million. Both export quantity and value set records for the month. Cumulative first-quarter 2012 turkey exports also set records for quantity and value, reaching 82,053 tons valued at $160.5 million, respective increases of 13% and 28% from the same period a year earlier. Exports to top market Mexico climbed to 46,947 tons at $98.8 million, up 13% and 25% year on year, respectively. Moreover, the top five markets accounted for 79% of U.S. turkey meat exports for the first quarter, with Mexico alone taking 57%.
