Angola became the third largest importer of chicken from the United States, according to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
According to the report, the U.S. exported $184 million worth of poultry to the southern African country. In terms of volume, Angola imported 209,468 metric tons in 2018, a 19 percent increase from 2017.
Most of that imported chicken came in the form of frozen chicken leg quarters. In 2018, Angola imported 191,187 metric tons of frozen leg quarters, valued at $166 million.
Angola relies heavily on imported foods after the nation’s farming sector was decimated after a decades-long civil war that ended in 2002. Chicken meat, according to the report, remains the most affordable animal protein source for Angolans, aside from the traditional Angolan fish, sardines.
Population growth, inadequate domestic production and enhanced cold storage availability were cited as reasons for the increased demand of U.S. chicken.
The increase in imports from the U.S. come in spite of Angola’s efforts to improve its self-sufficiency in poultry production. In 2016, Angola Agriculture Minister Afonso Pedro Canga stressed goals to reduce its reliance on imports.
Other top importers of U.S. chicken
With the latest figures, Angola replaces Cuba as the No. 3 destination for U.S. chicken. Cuba’s imports of U.S. chicken dropped below 200,000 metric tons in 2018, dropping it to the No. 5 position. Taiwan, which also increased its imports of U.S. chicken, moved into the No. 4 position with approximately 200,00 metric tons.
Mexico remains in a solid position as the leading importer of chicken from the United States, and even increased its import volume from its 2017. Hong Kong stayed the second-largest importer of U.S. chicken, although its volume, which surpassed 300,000 metric tons in 2017, was down in 2018.
