Value of US broiler exports rises 40 percent over year ago period

Exports of US broiler meat hit US$1 billion for the first four months of April 2008, an increase of 40.3 percent, over the same period a year ago.

Volumes reached 951,742 tonnes, a 23.6-percent increase

Renan Zhuang, director of economic analysis at the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council, said that strong worldwide demand for poultry was behind the increase in April's export volume which increased 40.2 percent over last year's levels, with the value of exports that month reaching US$286.2 million, a 43.4-percent increase over last year.

Russia, China and Mexico were the top three markets for US broiler meat exports, accounting for 54 percent of the total monthly volume.

Shipments to Russia rose 37.6 percent over the previous April, while shipments to China and Mexico increased by 82.1 and 83.3 percent on-year respectively.