Poultry Companies Export Chickens Around The World

The nations’ 50 broiler companies all participate, either directly or indirectly, in the export business, says Bill Roenigk, vice president of the National Broiler Council.

Ships carrying frozen poultry may carry 3,000 to 8,000 tons of cargo or more. (Weights are quoted in metric tons, which are equal to 2,204 pounds.)

Most of the companies won’t reveal specifics about how much product they’re selling in a particular country.

Privately held Simmons Foods Inc. of Siloam Springs, for example, says international sales account for about 15 percent of its sales. Russia is its top foreign customer.

Tyson Foods Inc. says its export business increased four-fold from 1991 to 1996, when it sold $863 million worth of chicken overseas. Russia is also Tyson’s biggest foreign customer.

Tyson spokesman Ed Nicholson says to predict what will happen in foreign markets would be strictly speculation.

“Every industry that exports to Russia and to Asia is in a wait-and-see mode.”

He adds, “On the one hand, the ability of the Russian consumer to buy our products faces some challenges. But, on the other hand, chicken is the lowest-priced meat protein.”

Contracts are on a dollar-denominated basis, meaning payments are based on the value of the U.S. dollar, Nicholson says.

Despite the economic and political crises abroad, “Up to this point, our volume has been firm,” Nicholson adds.