Poultry Marketplace

Profile of The Canadian Turkey Industry

Chapter 2: World Turkey Production and Trade

• INDEX
  
  
• CHAPTER 1: Introduction
  
  
• CHAPTER 2: World Turkey Production and Trade
  • 2.1 International Turkey Production
  • 2.2 International Trade in Turkey
    
    
• CHAPTER 3: Canadian Turkey Production and Supply Structure
  
  
• CHAPTER 4: Turkey Production in Canada
  
  
• CHAPTER 5: Processing and Further Processing
  
  
• CHAPTER 6: Canadian Turkey Market
  
  
• ANNEX A: The Import Control List
  
  
• Tables and Figures
  
  
• Bibliography

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2.1 International Turkey Production

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), world turkey meat production was an estimated 5,797,748 tonnes in 2006, up 0.53% from the previous year.  It is interesting to note that global turkey production has been growing steadily worldwide since the mid 1980s.  From 1986 to 2006, 115.4% growth in world turkey production was recorded: this increase is attributable to a number of factors including surging production in emerging markets such as Brazil, and greater demand in Western countries for high-protein, low-carbohydrate products. For example, over the same period all major producing countries or emerging countries increased their production. Most importantly, Brazil (+461%) increased their production the most followed by Germany (+419%), United States (+128%) and the EU-25 (+91%). Canada’s production, which is geared to meet Canadian demand, increased by 55% during this same 20 year period.

In regional terms, most turkey meat is produced in North America (59.5%), followed by Europe (29.7%) and South and Central America (6.1%).

Currently, the leading turkey-producing countries are the United States, the EU-25, Brazil and Canada.  In 2006, these four countries, or groups of countries, accounted for approximately 92.3% of world turkey production, as shown in Figure 1 below.  Canada is the fourth-largest turkey-producing country in 2006 with 162,575 M kg representing 3% of the world’s production. Table 1 presents the leading producing countries.

 

Figure 1 – World Turkey Meat Production

Source:  United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Canada ranked 7th (with 162.6 million kg) among the world’s turkey-producing countries in 2006.  Internationally, the United States and the EU-25 are by far the largest turkey-producing countries, accounting for approximately 81% of world production in 2006. 

 Source:  FAO.

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2.2 International Trade in Turkey

In 2006, according to the Global Trade Atlas database as well as EuroStat, world exports of turkey meat (preserved or prepared), cuts and edible offal reached approximately $647 million dollars while whole turkey exports (fresh, chilled and frozen) equalled approximately $46.8 million dollars¹ . Overall, the majority of the exports come from the United States ($351.2 million), the EU-25 ($140 million) and Brazil ($127.1 million). Within the EU-25, the main exporters by value are France, Germany, and Poland. When we consider all countries including the ones constituting the EU-25, Canada is ranked 15th in world exports.

On the import side, the largest importers of turkey meat in 2006 are: Mexico ($304.7 million), Russia ($109.9 million), Switzerland ($37 million) South Africa ($29.6 million) and EU-25 ($27.7 million). In terms of value, Canada is ranked 9th in the world for imports ($14.4 million).

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