During the previous four years, Mexico was the destination for less than 15% of U.S. egg product exports.
But things have rapidly changed, as during the first five months of 2020, Mexico’s share of those egg product exports has risen to 22.4%, Mary Alice Cain, manager of allied industry relations for the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) said during the Midwest Poultry Federation Convention on August 12.
Cain said during the convention, which is being held virtually in 2020, that Mexico has traditionally been more of a shell egg market, but USAPEEC has “worked hard to make egg products the name of the game there.”
“We’ve partnered with some really great bakeries who are signing the U.S.’s praises there, and telling other, smaller bakeries there in Mexico about our products,” Cain said.
Because of its proximity to the United States, Mexico is also a leading destination for U.S. liquid egg exports.
Egg product exports to Japan rebounding
While Mexico’s market share is increasing, Japan is still the largest market for U.S. egg products.
So far in 2020, about 32.1% of U.S. egg product exports have gone to Japan, but that number has declined. In 2016, Japan held about a 42% share, and in 2019, Japan’s share was closer to 35%.
Some of that drop was because on previous trade agreement ended, but now that a new trade agreement with Japan is in place, Cain said U.S. egg products are rising again in that market.
“They do a lot of specialty bakeries there, and a lot of European style baking there, so that requires egg products,” she said.
She added that Japan has long considered U.S. egg products to be very clean and safe.
Other markets
According to information presented by Cain, Canada is the third largest destination for U.S. egg products, receiving 11.2% of exports. Europe is next with 8.7%, followed by South Korea with 5.4% and Chile with 2.7%.
