Chicken exports in February this year were 329,147 metric tons valued at $408.96 million compared with 263,875 tons valued at $294.14 million in February 2011, a 24.7-percent increase in tonnage and a 39.0-percent increase in value. Two subcategories within the chicken categories experienced gains in quantity and value: chicken parts and prepared chicken and sausages. Chicken parts were up 30.8 percent in quantity and 47.2 percent in value while prepared chicken and sausages saw increases of 12.9 percent and 10.1 percent for quantity and value, respectively. Whole chicken exports dropped significantly, with a 71.1 percent decrease in quantity and a 57.4 percent decrease in value.
Chicken exports for February 2011 and February 2012 were as follows:
| U.S. Chicken Exports during the Month of February | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Value | |||||
| 20110 | 2012 | Change | 2011 | 2012 | Change | |
| – metric tons – | – percent – | – million dollars – | – percent – | |||
| Chicken parts | 242973 | 317,781 | 30.8 | 257.44 | 379.04 | 47.2 |
| Prepared chicken & sausages | 6,342 | 7,162 | 12.9 | 21.18 | 23.31 | 10.1 |
| Whole chickens | 14,560 | 4,204 | -71.1 | 15.52 | 6.61 | -57.4 |
| Total | 263,875 | 329,147 | 24.7 | 294.14 | 408.96 | 39.0 |
Chicken exports during January-February 2012 totaled 591,785 metric tons valued at $737.69 million, 17.1 percent more than the 505,390 tons during the first two months of last year and 30.8 percent above the $564.14 million during the comparable two months in 2011. As was the situation for February 2012, the subcategories of chicken exports during January-February this year that had positive positions compared with a year earlier where chicken parts and prepared chicken and sausages. Chicken parts experienced a 21.7-percent increase in quantity and a 37.1-percent increase in value while prepared chicken and sausages were up 15.8 percent and 12.6 percent for quantity and value, respectively.
Chicken exports during January-February 2011 and January-February 2012 were as follows:
| U.S. Chicken Exports for the Period of January-February | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Value | |||||
| 2011 | 2012 | Change | 2011 | 2012 | Change | |
| – metric tons – | – percent – | – million dollars – | – percent – | |||
| Chicken parts | 468,142 | 569,519 | 21.7 | 495.69 | 679.50 | 37.1 |
| Prepared chicken & sausages | 12,566 | 14,555 | 15.8 | 41.79 | 47.07 | 12.6 |
| Whole chickens | 24,682 | 7,711 | -68.8 | 26.66 | 11.12 | -58.3 |
| Total | 505,390 | 591,785 | 17.1 | 564.14 | 737.69 | 30.8 |
In February this year, Hong Kong and Mexico were again the top two markets for chicken parts. Hong Kong imported 43,940 metric tons valued at $57.92 million, 6.7 percent more in volume and 0.3 percent more in value. Mexico imported 41,284 tons valued at $45.57 million, 14.6 percent more in quantity and 52.2 percent more in value. Russia, the third largest parts market in February this year, had imports of 21,745 tons valued at $23.67 million compared with 11,459 tons valued at $10.70 million in February 2011, a 89.8 percent increase in quantity and a 121.1 percent rise in value.
Next week’s issue of the Washington Report will report the results for the top 15 chicken parts markets.
