Chicken exports for September 2012 were 317,097 metric tons valued at $404.03 million compared with 326,660 tons valued at $397.92 million in September 2011, a 2.9 percent decline in quantity but a 1.5 percent gain in value.  Chicken parts with the overall chicken category were up 0.5 percent in quantity and up 4.8 percent in value, while prepared chicken and sausages were up 4.2 percent in quantity and up 7.8 percent in value.  Whole chickens exports for September 2012 compared with the same month year earlier decreased 63.0 percent in quantity and decreased 58.7 percent in value.

Chicken exports for September 2011 and September 2012 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Exports during the Month of September
Quantity Value
2011 2012 Change 2011 2012 Change
– metric tons – – percent – – million dollars – – percent –
Chicken parts 301,924 303,371 0.5 353.23 370.13 4.8
Prepared chicken & sausages 6,806 7,092 4.2 23.21 25.02 7.8
Whole chickens 17,930 6,634 -63.0 21.48 8.88 -58.7
Total 326,660 317,097 -2.9 397.92 404.03 1.5

Chicken exports for January-September 2012 totaled 2,764,753 tons valued at $3,526.80 million compared with 2,617,638 tons valued at $3,094.63 million, a 5.6-percent increase in tonnage and a 14.0-percent increase in dollars.  Chicken parts registered stronger gains with a 9.8 percent rise in quantity and an 18.8 percent gain in value.  Prepared chicken and sausages were up 10.6 percent in quantity and up 6.7 percent in value while whole chicken exports decreased significantly with a 69.7 percent drop in quantity and a 62.0 percent decrease in value when January-September 2012 is compared with the first nine months of last year.

Chicken exports during January-September 2011 and January-September 2012 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Exports for the Period of January-September
Quantity Value
2011 2012 Change 2011 2012 Change
– metric tons – – percent – – million dollars – – percent –
Chicken parts 2,418,421 2,655,330 9.8 2,733.38 3,246.35 18.8
Prepared chicken & sausages 61,132 67,600 10.6 208.41 222.39 6.7
Whole chickens 138,085 41,823 -69.7 152.84 58.06 -62.0
Total 2,617,638 2,764,753 5.6 3,094.63 3,526.80 14.0

For September this year, the top two chicken parts markets both experienced positive results for both quantity and values.  Top market Mexico was up 21.3 percent in quantity (43,901 tons) and 33.1 percent in value ($47.15 million), while China was the second largest parts market with an increase of 252.2 percent in quantity (31,612 tons) and a 232.7 percent increase in value ($36.35 million).  Russia, third top destination, experienced a 40.1 percent decrease in quantity (18,469 tons) and a 41.9 percent decrease in value ($21.20 million).  Angola was the fourth largest parts market in September this year even though the quantity, 16,053 tons, fell 19.8 percent and the value, $18.82 million, decreased 18.0 percent from year earlier.

Next week’s issue of the Washington Report will present the data for the top 15 chicken parts markets.