The value of US poultry exports through the third quarter of 2012 set a new year-on-year record of more than $4 billion, while the quantity of poultry exported was only marginally lower than the all-time record set in 2008, according to the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
Exports of U.S. poultry meat for January through September reached 3.04 million metric tons valued at $4.032 billion, up six and 14 percent, respectively, from the same period in 2011.
Cumulative exports of broiler meat (excluding chicken paws) hit 2.4 million tons valued at $3.1 billion, up six and 18 percent, respectively, setting year-on-year records.
Top markets for US chicken were Mexico, 408,978 tons, up 21%; Russia, 206,923 tons; up 59%; Canada, 127,790 tons, up 23%; Angola, 123,135 tons, up three percent; and Cuba, 112,122 tons, up 82%. Other important markets were Iraq (including transshipments via Turkey) 99,005 tons, up slightly; Taiwan, 98,669 tons, up 26%; Hong Kong, 85,245 tons, down 54%; Kazakhstan, 74,095 tons, up almost four-fold; and China, 65,279 tons, up 43%.
