Here is an overview of the main steps involved in exporting chicken meat that meets international standards, from raising and processing to delivery
- Raising and Processing Chicken – Exporters need to raise chickens and process the meat according to the requirements of the destination country. This includes slaughtering, deboning, cutting, cleaning, chilling, and freezing the meat properly.
- Regulatory Approvals – Exporters must get all required export certificates from relevant government authorities, like the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Each country has specific health, sanitation, and certification regulations for imported meats.
- Packaging and Labeling – Chicken needs proper protective packaging like shrink wrap or vacuum sealing, along with accurate labeling indicating weight, price, expiration, ingredients, etc. Packaging must maintain quality during shipping.
- Transportation – Chicken exports require refrigerated container shipping by sea or air transport to maintain the cold chain. Frozen chicken can be shipped in refrigerated containers at -18 °C. Fresh chicken needs tighter temperature control during transport.
- Documentation – Exporters need to provide all documentation, like export licenses, veterinary health certificates, and invoices required by customs and the importing country’s regulators.
- Distribution – Importers receive, inspect, and distribute the shipped chicken to end retailers/consumers. Effective cold storage and inventory management are key for the importing distributor.
- Marketing – Building brand recognition and marketing chicken in the destination country also helps drive export success. Marketing to retailers helps distribution.
Following proper protocols for export processing, shipping, documentation, and marketing enables efficient and safe trade of chicken meat between global trading partners.
Q: What types of chicken do you export?
A: We export a wide range of chicken products including whole chickens, chicken breasts, legs, wings, thighs, drumsticks, and giblets. We can supply any cut to your specification.
Q: How is your chicken frozen?
A: Our chicken is individually quickly frozen (IQF) within hours of processing to lock in freshness. Each piece is frozen separately at -18°C.
Q: How is your chicken packaged for export?
A: We vacuum seal or cryovac package our chicken in secure, freezer-grade packaging. Boxes are customized to your requirements for easy handling.
Q: What are your exporting procedures?
A: We arrange all documentation, load monitoring, and refrigerated transport in sealed containers from our facilities directly to the port.
Q: Do you offer antibiotic-free or organic chicken?
A: Yes, we source natural, vegetarian-fed chicken without antibiotics or hormones. Organic options are also available.
Q: What is your minimum order quantity?
A: We normally ship full container loads. The minimum order is one 20ft container holding up to 20,000 frozen.
Q: Which countries do you export to?
A: We export frozen chicken globally to over 80 countries. Our major markets include Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.
Q: How long does shipping take?
A: Transit time is typically 3-6 weeks by refrigerated sea container. We also offer air freight for urgent deliveries.
The best exporters of frozen chicken vary and depend on the company. We will examine the best exporters of frozen chicken products with respect to countries. With the United States leading the chart, followed by Brazil in the Americas, the Netherlands and Poland, and Belgium topping the chart in the EU, followed by Thailand and China in Asia. The top exporting companies are TYSON, BRF, and JBS. Here are some of the top chicken exporting countries in the world export capacity:
- United States – As mentioned, the US is the largest exporter of chicken meat globally, with exports valued at over $5 billion. Key export markets include Cuba, Canada, Asia, and Africa, and dominant chicken manufacturing company is Tyson Foods
- Brazil – Brazil is the second largest chicken exporter in the list as of 2021, export value of halal foods to OIC countries amounted to 16.5 billion U.S. dollars.. Brazil dominates chicken exports to countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Major companies like JBS and BRF lead Brazilian chicken exports.
- Netherlands – The Netherlands is a key exporter of chicken in Europe, exporting nearly 1 million tons annually. Its advanced logistics help re-export chicken products across Europe.
- Poland – Poland has grown into the fourth-largest chicken exporter, driven by lower production costs than other EU producers. Poland exports over half a million tons per year.
- Belgium – Belgium is another leading European chicken exporting nation, exporting over 500,000 tons of chicken meat in 2020.
- Thailand – Thailand has boosted Thai frozen chicken exports in recent years through vertical integration and export promotion. It exports over 400,000 tons annually.
- China – China is a major producer, but also imports a lot of chicken from Brazil. However, exports have increased to markets like Japan and Africa.
Other notable chicken exporters include Argentina, Ukraine, Turkey, Canada, Germany, and the UK. When looking at top frozen chicken exporters, factors like cost of production, trade relationships, domestic demand, and availability of ports are some key drivers that allow countries to export competitively.
Based on recent statistics in the poultry niche and with data from VOLZA, the top three exporters of frozen chicken worldwide are the United States, leading in frozen chicken exports with 355,859 shipments, followed by Brazil with 304,046 shipments, and Thailand ranking third with 40,489 shipments. With their main market being China, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The top three product categories for frozen chicken exporters worldwide are classified as follows, based on countries:
- HSN Code 02071400: 02071400
- HSN Code 02071200: 02071200
- HSN Code 020004: 020004
These statistics are current as of August 3, 2023, and are derived from Volza’s Export-Import data on frozen chicken, which encompasses export-import transactions from 70 different countries. The data includes information about buyers, suppliers, and key decision-makers, including their contact details such as phone numbers, email addresses, and LinkedIn profiles.
According to data from the USDA, below are some key examination facts about US chicken exports:
- The United States exported over 3.6 million metric tons of chicken in 2021, valued at $4.2 billion. This accounted for nearly 17% of total global chicken exports. And these values keep rising with the US exporting over 1.3K tons in May 2023, picking up by 6.3% against April 2023 figures. In general, exports, however, saw a perceptible setback. The most prominent rate of growth was recorded in March 2023, with an increase of 58% month-to-month
- This large export is due to its market, with top destinations for US chicken exports being Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong, Angola, and Taiwan. These five markets account for over half of total US chicken exports.
- Exports of chicken parts like wings, breasts, and legs have risen sharply over the past decade. This is partly driven by growing overseas demand for convenient processed and pre-cooked chicken products.
- The US states with the highest chicken exports are Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, and Virginia. Major chicken companies like Tyson Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride, and Sanderson Farms have operations in these states.
- US chicken exports have benefited from trade deals like NAFTA and bilateral agreements that opened up markets in Asia and Africa. However, exports have also been impacted at times by trade disputes and retaliatory tariffs from trading partners.
So in summary, the size, advanced processing infrastructure, and trade architecture of the US poultry industry have made it the top global exporter, significantly outpacing other major producers like Brazil and the EU. However, rising competition from emerging exporters could challenge the US share of global chicken trade going forward.