U.S. turkey exports for the first quarter of this year registered gains in volume and set a record in value, while broiler and egg exports decreased from the same period a year earlier, according to new trade data released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service.
While U.S. total broiler exports through March were down due in large to decreased shipments to Cuba, Taiwan, and China, other export markets such as Vietnam, Turkmenistan, Haiti, Angola, Gambia, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Hong Kong, Colombia, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Qatar, and Benin showed tremendous gains in broiler exports from the same month a year ago.
Broiler exports for the first quarter of this year were 762,577 tons, down 0.5 percent from the same period of last year, while export value was $1.090 billion, down 5.9 percent. Of the total shipment, 49.7 percent or 378,642 tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Cuba, Philippines, Canada, Vietnam, and Taiwan.
Exports to Mexico in January-March 2026 were 172,429 tons, down 4.0 percent from the same period a year earlier. During the same period, Brazilian chicken exports to Mexico were 43,657 tons, down 16.0 percent year over year, while Chilean chicken exports to Mexico were 5,425 tons, down 20.3 percent.
Exports to Cuba decreased by 46.2 percent to 45,046 tons, while shipments to the Philippines dropped by 0.9 percent to 42,697 tons. Exports to other important markets were Canada, 41,185 tons, down 5.0 percent; Vietnam, 39,530 tons, up 72.9 percent; Taiwan, 37,774, down 23.2 percent; Guatemala, 35,317 tons, up 1.7 percent; Angola, 28,504 tons, up 53.0 percent; Haiti, 26,802 tons, up 63.8 percent; Ghana, 24,427 tons, up 40.8 percent.
Cumulative turkey exports for the first three months of this year were 51,556 tons, up 19.2 percent from the same period a year earlier, while export value set a record at $248.5 million, up 55.2 percent. Of the total quantity exported, 91.9 percent or 47,389 tons were shipped to the top six markets, including Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and Dominican Republic, with Mexico alone accounting for 84.3 percent or 43,458 tons.
Total egg exports (table eggs plus egg products in shell egg equivalent) for the first three months of 2026 decreased by 7.7 percent to 35.9 million dozen. The value of those exports decreased by 67.8 percent to $57.4 million.
.png)
