Frozen Chicken FAQ We will be analyzing the frequently ask question about frozen chicken for export and import
Frequently asked questions
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, Philippines and Vietnam.
The top three product categories for frozen chicken exporters worldwide are classified as follows based on countries:
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 date from USDA below are some key examine 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 it’s 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 benefitted 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 has 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.
The best exporters Frozen chicken suppliers vary and depends on on the company. we will examine the best exporters of frozen chicken products with respect top countries. With the iUnited states leading the chart followed by Brazil in the Americas, The Netherlands and Poland and Belgium topping the chart in the Eu and 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 dominanting chciken manufacturing company being Tyson Food
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.
Here is an overview of the main steps involved in exporting chicken meat that meet international standard 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 is 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.
The majority of chicken consumed in the United States is sourced domestically. Key facts about the sources of chicken in the US:
Domestic Production – Over 95% of chicken consumed in the US comes from domestic production. The top chicken producing states are Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina and Mississippi.
Imports – Only about 5-6% of chicken consumed in the US is estimated to be imported. The main suppliers are Canada, Chile and China.
Canada – Canada accounts for around 2/3rd of all chicken imported into the US. The close proximity and trade relationships support this import flow.
Chile – Chile is the second largest source of imported chicken to the US, accounting for around 18% of imports. Chile is a major global exporter of chicken breast fillets.
China – China supplies around 15% of total US chicken imports. However, China faces trade barriers and bans at times due to food safety concerns.
Restrictive Import Quotas – The US imposes tariff-rate quotas on imported chicken products to protect domestic producers. This limits import quantity from most countries.
Vertical Integration – The advanced vertical integration of US chicken farming and processing enables large-scale domestic production to meet demand. Over 90% of US chickens come from vertically integrated operations.
So in summary, the scale, efficiency and integration of the US chicken supply chain results in minimal dependence on imports to meet domestic consumption needs. Canada is the primary supplementary foreign source of US chicken.
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 quick 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 20,000kgs 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.