November 1, 2006

USDA predicts strong poultry trade for 2007

US broiler meat exports is expected to increase 2.2 percent in 2007 to 2.5 million tonnes due to an expected decline in animal disease occurrences, according to a report by USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service.

Exports by major traders would increase by 4.1 percent as the market recovers from bird flu outbreaks and its impact, the report said.

US turkey exports are expected to rise 7.9 percent to 261,000 tonnes.

Reversing a six-year trend, Brazilian broiler exports are expected to decrease in 2006 due to weakening demand in some of its major export markets.

The report noted that Russia and Japan, both major poultry importers, are expected to cut down imports in 2007. Russia, the largest importer of broiler meat, is forecast to decrease its overall broiler imports in 2007 by over 7 percent to nearly 1.2 million tonnes as its own production industry takes off. 60 percent of imported poultry in Russia currently comes from the US.

Still, imports by other major traders are forecast to increase over 3 percent to over 5.3 million tonnes.

Growth in the EU market, which saw a strong 15 percent increase in broiler imports this year, is expected to slow to 8 percent next year, or about 645,000 tonnes, the report said.