Poultry, Egg Exports Hit Record in 2011

U.S. poultry and egg exports jumped 17 percent to a record $5.1 billion in value last year, as shipments of chicken and turkey hit record levels.

Overall poultry shipments rose 17 percent in value to $4.91 billion. Exports of broiler meat excluding chicken feet rose 17 percent in value to $3.6 billion on a 3 percent increase in volume to 3.2 million metric tons.

Increased exports to Hong Kong, Korea, Iraq, Mexico, Angola and Canada offset declines in shipments to Russia, Ukraine and Cuba, the U.S. Poultry and Egg Export Council reported. Shipments of chicken feet rose 8 percent in value to $502.1 million and 3 percent in volume to 346,048 tons. Ninety percent of U.S. exports of chicken feet are destined for Hong Kong.

Turkey exports increased 25 percent in value to $599.5 million and 21 percent in volume to 319,015 tons, led by a 57 percent jump in shipments to Mexico. Eggs and egg products rose 7 percent to 220 million dozen equivalents, the second highest volume on record.

-- Contact Joseph Bonney at jbonney@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephbonney.