Chicken exports in May 2013 increased 3.3 percent in quantity and gained 1.3 percent in value over a year earlier. Exports totaled 318,196 metric tons valued at $412.12 million this May compared with 307,969 tons valued at $406.82 million in May 2012. Within the overall chicken category, chicken parts slipped 0.1 percent in quantity and decreased 3.0  percent in value. Prepared chicken and sausages registered gains of 50.2 percent and 28.2 percent in quantity and value, respectively. Albeit from relatively low levels, whole chickens increased significantly with quantity up 164.9 percent from a year earlier and value increased 169.7 percent from May 2012.

Chicken exports for May 2012 and May 2013 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Exports during the Month of May
Quantity Value
2012 2013 Change 2012 2013 Change
– metric tons – – percent – – million dollars – – percent –
Chicken parts 296,155 295,900 -0.1 375.48 364.37 -3.0
Prepared chicken & sausages 7,849 11,792 50.2 25.97 33.29 28.2
Whole chickens 3,965 10,504 164.9 5.36 14.46 169.7
Total 307,969 318,196 3.3 406.82 412.12 1.3

Chicken exports during the five months of this year eked-out a 0.4 percent gain in quantity and rose 1.0 percent in value. For January-May 2013, chicken exports totaled 1,519,980 tons valued at $1,964.21 million compared with 1,513,690 tons valued at $1,944.05 million during the same months a year earlier.

Within the overall chicken category, parts during January-May 2013 were 1,441,179 tons valued at $1,774.12 million compared with 1,456,661 tons valued at $1,793.73 million, a 1.1 percent decline in quantity and 1.1 percent less in value. However, the other two sub-categories reported positive results. Prepared chicken and sausages were 43,677 tons valued at $137.81 million, 16.2 percent more than the 37,598 tons during January-May 2012 and 11.5 percent above $123.63 million year earlier. Whole chicken exports experienced strong growth with 35,124 tons valued at $52.29 million so far this year compared with 19,431 tons valued at $26.69 million last year during the first five months, increases of 80.8 percent and 95.9 percent for quantity and value, respectively.

Chicken exports for January-May 2012 and January-May 2013 were as follows:

U.S. Chicken Exports during the Period of January-May
Quantity Value
2012 2013 Change 2012 2013 Change
– metric tons – – percent – – million dollars – – percent –
Chicken parts 1,456,661 1,441,179 -1.1 1,793.73 1,774.12 -1.1
Prepared chicken & sausages 37,598 43,677 16.2 123.63 137.81 11.5
Whole chickens 19,431 35,124 80.8 26.69 52.29 95.9
Total 1,513,690 1,519,980 0.4 1,944.05 1,964.21 1.0

Chicken parts exports to the top two markets, Mexico and China, in May 2013 registered increases in both quantity and value. Mexico was the top destination with a 51.6 percent increase in quantity and a 28.1 percent increase in value. Next top market, China had gains in both quantity and value, with a 23.5 percent increase in quantity and a 15.0 percent increase in value. Angola, the third largest parts destination during  the first five months of this year, experienced a 27.0 percent decrease in quantity and a 23.5 percent decrease in value when May 2013 parts exports are compared with May 2012. Parts exports to Russia, the fourth largest market in May, were down 47.5 percent in quantity and down 46.3 percent in value.

Next week’s Washington Report will report chicken parts exports for the top 15 markets.