Less surprising is the fact that the United States leads the list of top turkey meat countries for consumption and production. U.S. turkey growers will produce an estimated 269.8 million turkeys in 2007 – almost one for each American citizen.
Low in fat and higher in protein than chicken or beef, 45 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving in the U.S .while 22 million turkeys are consumed at Christmas.
Twenty-seven percent of turkeys consumed in the United States are consumed during Western holidays including Easter. Eating turkey is a family affair, as reflected by the face that more than 90% of Americans eat the roasted fowl during festive seasons.
Having gained 108% since 1970, American turkey consumption shows no signs of slowing. But turkey dinners aren’t restricted to the U.S. For 87% of people in the UK, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a traditional roast turkey.
A lesser-known fact is that, at 28 pounds per person, Israelis eat the most turkey meat per capita. Turkey is considered a kosher food.
World Turkey Meat Exports by Volume
The 5 leading turkey food shippers generated well over 70% of world exports in 2004.
- France ... 229,652 metric tons (25.3% of global total)
- United States of America ... 179,328 mt (19.8%)
- Brazil ... 134,339 mt (14.8%)
- Germany ... 65,118 mt (7.2%)
- Italy ... 58,679 mt (6.5%)
- Netherlands ... 45,606 mt (5.0%)
- United Kingdom ... 41,443 mt (4.6%)
- Hungary ... 36,905 mt (4.1%)
- Poland ... 31,458 mt (3.5%)
- Canada ... 17,484 mt (1.9%)
- Ireland ... 15,049 mt (1.7%)
- Spain ... 14,562 mt (1.6%)
- Belgium ... 9,907 mt (1.1%)
- Chile ... 9,281 mt (1.0%)
- Austria ... 5,012 mt (0.6%)
- Czech Republic ... 4,215 mt (0.5%)
- Australia ... 3,636 mt (0.4%)
- Finland ... 2,590 mt (0.3%)
- Israel ... 1,209 mt (0.1%)
- Denmark ... 1,034 mt (0.1%).
At US$4,119 per metric ton, Denmark’s turkey exports demand the highest dollar value. In second place is Ireland ($3,453 per mt) followed by the Czech Republic ($3,340 per mt), Hungary ($3,156) and Poland ($2,994).
World Turkey Meat Imports by Volume
Mexico is the world’s leading importer of turkey meat. The top 5 turkey importing nations below accounted for almost 60% of worldwide imports in 2004.
- Mexico ... 135,954 metric tons (21.0% of global total)
- Russian Federation ... 94,750 mt (14.6%)
- Germany ... 83,092 mt (12.8%)
- Belgium ... 40,064 mt (6.2%)
- Spain ... 32,983 mt (5.1%)
- United Kingdom ... 28,617 mt (4.4%)
- South Africa ... 27,754 mt (4.3%)
- Poland ... 25,365 mt (3.9%)
- Italy ... 25,322 mt (3.9%)
- Bulgaria ... 24,912 mt (3.8%)
- Benin ... 22,867 mt (3.5%)
- Netherlands ... 21,761 mt (3.4%)
- Austria ... 18,351 mt (2.8%)
- Greece ... 15,704 mt (2.4%)$
- France ... 13,481 mt (2.1%)
- Denmark ... 12,518 mt (1.9%)
- Portugal ... 8,387 mt (1.3%)
- Switzerland ... 8,295 mt (1.3%)
- Ireland ... 4,280 mt (0.7%)
- Canada ... 4,267 mt (0.7%).
At US$4,843 per metric ton, Ireland pays the highest unit price for imported turkey meat. The U.K. and Canada also pay surprisingly high prices for their turkey meat imports ($3,957 and $3,455 per mt, respectively), especially when contrasted with the relatively low unit values for U.K. and Canadian turkey exports ($1,358 and $768 per mt, respectively).
No Turkey for China and India?
Notable by their absence from the lists of exporters and importers are China and India, two markets with vast numbers of potential consumers. However, neither country has a tradition of dining on turkey at holiday time. Both countries view turkey as an exotic fowl with an assortment of meats that can be used to supplement other dishes.
Sources for this Article
This article presents independent calculations and insights based on key statistics from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations ( fao.org em>), National Turkey Federation and University of Illinois Extension Turkey Facts
Daniel Workman - A senior business and finance writer who also does French translations, notably international trade and insurance materials.
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