Chicken exports in February this year slipped 0.5 percent in quantity and also dropped 5.9 percent in value when compared with year earlier. Exports totaled 294,065 metric tons valued at $353.44 million in February 2014 compared with 295,491 tons valued at $375.49 million in February 2013. Within the overall chicken category, chicken parts were off 0.1 percent in quantity and were down 6.2 percent in value. Prepared chicken and sausages registered a 7.1-percent decrease in quantity but a 5.3 percent gain in value. Whole chicken exports fell 14.8 percent in quantity and decreased 29.1 percent in value when February 2014 is compared with February 2013.

Chicken exports for February 2013 and February 2014 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Exports in the Month of February
Quantity Value
2013 2014 Change 2013 2014 Change
– metric tons – – percent – – million dollars – – percent –
Chicken parts 283,258 283,049 -0.1 343.79 322.53 -6.2
Prepared chicken & sausages 7,694 7,151 -7.1 24.52 25.82 5.3
Whole chickens 4,539 3,865 -14.8 7.18 5.09 -29.1
Total 295,491 294,065 -0.5 375.49 353.44 -5.9

Mexico, in February this year was again the leading parts market with 48,776 metric tons valued at $50.76 million, a10.9-percent increase in tonnage and a 1.6-percent increase in dollars. Angola, the second largest parts market, took 20,841 tons valued at $20.64 million, a 123.7-percent increase in quantity and an 82.8-percent increase in value. Hong Kong, the third largest parts destination in February this year also had impressive gains with a 110.6-percent increase in tonnage and a 129.8-percent increase in value.

The top 15 parts markets had a 10.7-percent increases in tonnage and a 1.4-percent rise in value while “other countries” were off 20.4 percent in quantity and down 21.4 percent in value when February 2014 is compared with February 2013. Ten of the top 15 parts markets this February registered increases both in quantity and value.

Chicken parts exports in February 2013 and February 2014 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Parts for the Month of February
Destination Quantity Value
2013 2014 Change 2013 2014 Change
— metric tons — — percent — — million dollars — — percent —
Mexico 43,986 48,776 10.9 49.94 50.76 1.6
Angola  9,315  20,841  123.7  11.29  20.64  82.8
Hong Kong  9,170  19,310  110.6  12.68  29.09  129.8
Cuba  15,758  16,490  406  15.85  16.24  2.5
China  28,354  14,032  -50.5  34.20  17.74  -48.1
Georgia  6,641  11,263  69.6  6.87  9.77  42.2
Iraq  12,029  10,883  -9.5  13.25  10.32 -22.2
Russia  20,591  9,836  -52.2  23.11  9.57  -58.9
Canada  10,533  9,662  -8.3  29.43  25.88  -12.1
Taiwan  11,871  8,976  -24.4  14.27  10.39  -27.2
Turkey  2,984  8,767 193.8  3.07  7.41  141.4
United Arab Emirates  3,958  8,091  104.4  4.60  7.47  62.4
Philippines  5,137  6,711  30.6  5.02  5.86  16.7
Azerbaijan  1,550 5,626  263.0  1.78  5.49  208.4
Congo (Kinshasa)  3,128  5,589  78.7 3.23  5.46  69.0
Top 15 Markets  185,005  204,853  10.7  228.78  232.09  1.4
Other Countries  98,253 78,196  -20.4  115.01  90.44  -21.4
Grand Total  283,258  283,049  -0.1  343.79  322.53  -6.2

Chicken exports during the first two months of this year posted a 6.6 percent gain in quantity but a 0.1 percent dip in value. For January-February 2014, chicken exports totaled 598,651 metric tons valued at $722.71 million compared with 561,672 tons valued at $723.52 million during the same two months in 2013.

Within the overall chicken category, parts during January-February were 572,961 metric tons valued at $654.33 million compared with 537,144 tons valued at $659.41 million, a 6.7 percent increase in quantity but a 0.8 percent decrease in value. The other two subcategories reported mixed results. Prepared chicken and sausages were 16,443 tons valued at $56.17 million, 9.9 percent more than the 14,956 tons during January-February 2013 and 14.7 percent above the $48.98 million a year earlier. Whole chicken exports recorded lower performance with 9,247 tons valued at $12.21 million compared with 9,572 tons valued at $15.13 million, decreases of 3.4 percent and 19.3 percent for quantity and value, respectively, when January-February 2014 is compared with January-February 2013.

Chicken exports for January-February 2013 and January-February 2014 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Exports During January-February
Quantity Value
2013 2014 Change 2013 2014 Change
– metric tons – – percent – – million dollars – – percent –
Chicken parts 537,144 572,961 6.7 659.41 654.33 -0.8
Prepared chicken & sausages 14,956  16,443 9.9 48.98 56.17  14.7
Whole chickens  9,572  9,247  -3.4  15.13  12.21  -19.3
Total  561,672 598,651  6.6  723.52  722.71  -0.1

Mexico continues to clearly be the leading parts destination. During January-February 2014 parts  to Mexico totaled 101,539 tons valued at $103.57 million, a 12.3-percent increase in quantity and a 1.4-percent increase in value. Hong Kong was the second largest parts market during the first two months of 2014 when measured in tonnage. Angola was third, followed somewhat closely by Russia and China.

Ten of the top 15 parts markets had increases in both quantity and value during January-February 2014. Together, the 15 largest parts countries had a 9.3 percent increase in quantity and a 0.3 percent rise in value. At the same time, “other countries” experienced a 0.2-percent increase in quantity but a 3.4-percent decrease in value.

Chicken parts exports during January-February 2013 and January-February 2014 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Parts During January-February
Destination Quantity Value
2013 2014 Change 2013 2014 Change
— metric tons — — percent — — million dollars — — percent —
Mexico 90,390 101,539 12.3 102.15 103.57 1.4
Hong Kong 18,820 46,463 146.9 25.65  68.46  466.9
Angola 25,715 32,565 26.6 31.01  32.80  5.8
Russia 43,157 30,619 -29.1 47.70  30.39  -36.3
China 56,256 28,995 -48.5 67.28 36.85  -45.2
Cuba 23,477  24,684 5.1 23.95  24.45  2.1
Georgia 8,977  23,185 158.3 9.65  19.89  105.9
Iraq 15,831  19,281 21.8 17.86  18.45  3.3
Canada 21,469  19,100 -11.0 60.58  51.09  -15.7
Taiwan 26,240  18,859 -28.1 31.65  21.50  -32.1
United Arab Emirates 9,225  17,254 87.0 10.78  16.12  49.5
Turkey 9,064  15,649 72.7 9.64  13.11  36.0
Philippines 9,274  14,612 57.6 8.96  13.15  46.8
Guatemala 11,599  11,549 -0.4 13.47  11.82  -12.2
Vietnam 10,773  11,387 5.7 12.57  12.59  0.2
Top 15 Markets 380,267 415,741 9.3 472.91  474.24  0.2
Other Countries 156,877  157,220 0.2 186.50  180.09  -3.4
Grand Total 537,144  572,961 6.7 659.41  654.33  -0.8