Poultry exports mixed in 2025; turkey, eggs set record

For Indiana’s grain farmers, the “check” for their corn and soybeans is often written by a chicken. 

With poultry remaining a primary driver of domestic feed demand, the latest 2025 trade data from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service offers a roadmap for where Hoosier-grown feed is traveling — and where global competition is heating up. 

The big picture? While the volume of some poultry exports dipped, the value of turkey and egg exports skyrocketed, signaling a resilient global appetite despite shifting trade routes. 

Broilers: Navigating a shifting global map 

Total U.S. broiler exports reached more than 3.1 million metric tons in 2025. While this represents a 3.4 percent decrease in volume and a slight 1.2 percent dip in value ($4.64 billion) compared to 2024, the story is one of market diversification. 

Traditional heavyweights like China saw a massive 45.5 percent pullback in volume. However, Hoosier feed found its way to emerging markets that picked up the slack: 

• Taiwan increased 23.4 percent. 

• Philippines increased 30.3 percent. 

• Canada increased 10.7 percent. 

The Mexico Factor: Mexico remains the No. 1 destination for U.S. poultry despite increased competition from Brazil. Brazilian chicken exports to Mexico jumped 15 percent this year, creating a more crowded marketplace for U.S. product. 

Turkey and eggs: Lower volume, higher value 

The standout news for the 2025 data lies in the value of turkey and egg products. Even though fewer units were moved, they fetched a much higher premium — a trend that supports steady demand for high-quality feed. 

Turkey export volume fell 12.5 percent, yet the export value surged 19.7 percent to $805.2 million. Mexico continues to be the lifeblood of this sector, accounting for nearly 80 percent of all U.S. turkey exports. 

For table eggs, a similar trend played out in the layers. While volume dropped 24.6 percent, the value of those exports rose 28.2 percent to $256.9 million. 

What is impact on Indiana farmers? 

The poultry industry remains the “anchor tenant” for Indiana’s corn and soybean consumption. 

While a 1.2 percent dip in broiler value and a drop in Chinese shipments might seem concerning, the “tremendous gains” seen in secondary markets like the UAE, Turkmenistan and the Dominican Republic, for example, suggest that global demand for U.S. protein — and the grain required to raise it — remains robust.