Chicken exports in February 2011 were 269,137 metric tons valued at $301.36 million compared with 237,840 tons valued at $261.08 million in February 2010, a 13.2-percent increase in quantity and a 15.4- percent increase in value. Within the chicken category, broiler parts this February were 248,061 tons valued at $264.22 million, up 11.3 percent in quantity and up 13.8 percent in value compared with the second month of last year. On a percentage increase basis, whole chickens had the strongest gain with a 65.5-percent increase in quantity and a 69.9-percent increase in value. Exports of prepared chicken and sausages experienced a 5.5-percent increase in quantity and an 8.9-percent increase in value. Chicken exports for February 2010 and February 2011 were as follows:
| U.S. Exports During the Month of February | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Value | |||||
| 2010 | 2011 | Change | 2010 | 2011 | Change | |
| — metric tons — | – percent – | — million dollars — | – percent – | |||
| Broiler parts | 222,876 | 248,061 | 11.3 | 232.11 | 264.22 | 13.8 |
| Whole chickens | 8,811 | 14,582 | 65.5 | 9.17 | 15.58 | 69.9 |
| Prepared chicken & sausages | 6,153 | 6,494 | 5.5 | 19.8 | 21.56 | 8.9 |
| Total | 237,840 | 269,137 | 13.2 | 261.08 | 301.36 | 15.4 |
Chicken exports during January-February 2011 totaled 516,441 metric tons valued at $579.27 million, 8.2 percent more than the 477,512 tons a year earlier and 9.9 percent above the $579.27 million during the first two months of last year. All three subcategories of chicken registered increases in quantity and value. Broiler parts rose 6.8 percent in quantity and 8.7 percent in value, while whole chickens had gains of 41.8 percent and 45.8 percent for quantity and value, respectively. Exports of prepared chicken and sausage increased 9.2 percent in quantity and 7.4 percent in value. Chicken exports for January-February 2010 and January-February 2011 were as follows:
| U.S. Exports for the Period of January-February | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Value | |||||
| 2010 | 2011 | Change | 2010 | 2011 | Change | |
| — metric tons — | – percent – | — million dollars — | – percent – | |||
| Broiler parts | 448,147 | 478,644 | 6.8 | 468.69 | 509.68 | 8.7 |
| Whole chickens | 17,583 | 24,928 | 41.8 | 18.52 | 27 | 45.8 |
| Prepared chicken & sausages | 11,782 | 12,869 | 9.2 | 39.67 | 42.59 | 7.4 |
| Total | 477,512 | 516,441 | 8.2 | 526.88 | 579.27 | 9.9 |
Top broiler parts markets in February 2011 were Hong Kong with 41,197 tons valued at $57.76 million, increases of 33.4 percent in quantity and 29.7 percent in value over February 2010; Mexico with 36,017 tons valued at $29.914 million, an 8.9 percent gain in quantity and a 24.6 percent jump in value; and Taiwan with 14,621 tons valued at $14.90 million, increases of 43.5 percent for both quantity and value. Next week’s issue of the Washington Report will include the broiler parts export data for the top 15 markets.
