2026 Outlook: U.S. Poultry Exports Navigate Common Challenges
As we enter 2026, the U.S. poultry export landscape reveals a complex interplay of factors. The sector continues to grapple with the aftereffects of avian influenza, heightened competition abroad, and evolving trade dynamics—while also witnessing shifts in production patterns.
Export Trends: Broilers and Eggs
Though comprehensive USDA export statistics for 2025 are still forthcoming, preliminary data indicates emerging trends that are reshaping the poultry trade environment:
- Broiler Production: The early signals of broiler exports are promising. Record headcounts and robust hatchery performance bolstered production throughout 2025, leading to increased export volumes as the year came to a close.
- Global Trade Demand: There remains strong international appetite for poultry products, as underscored by Brazil’s late-2025 export activity, which continues to recalibrate global market dynamics in favor of Latin American suppliers.
- Market Uncertainty: The poultry market is further complicated by political and economic headwinds that threaten to impact export flows and pricing strategies into 2026.
Underlying Challenges
Recent export performance for U.S. poultry can be traced to two significant challenges:
- Avian Influenza (HPAI): The high pathogenic avian influenza has persisted, challenging commercial flocks and constraining the supply of exportable poultry products, particularly eggs. While domestic measures have improved stability, the lingering threat of HPAI continues to undermine confidence in foreign markets.
- Competitive Pressures: Brazil’s poultry sector achieved new export records in 2025, capturing market share amid supply shortages in other countries, further entrenching its position as a leading global exporter.
Egg Exports: Increased Imports Amid Domestic Shortages
While the overall volume of U.S. egg exports remains below pre-2024 levels, there has been a notable increase in imports of shell and egg products into the United States. This surge is largely attributed to previous HPAI losses, leading to tighter domestic supplies. Countries such as Türkiye, Mexico, and Brazil have ramped up their shipments to the U.S. to mitigate shortages.
This shift has disrupted traditional trade flows, with the U.S. increasingly relying on imports to meet its egg demand, even as it continues supplying egg products to neighboring markets like Canada and Mexico.
A Glimpse into 2026
The early projections for the 2026 poultry market include:
- Broiler Production Growth: A more substantial broiler production base is anticipated, potentially paving the way for heightened export levels later in the year as global demand stabilizes and supply chains adapt.
- Egg Export Revisions: There will likely be modest upward adjustments in egg and egg product export forecasts for 2026, reflecting expected improvements in HPAI management and domestic supply restoration.
However, the landscape remains fraught with challenges, including ongoing competition from low-cost global exporters, disease management hurdles, and uncertainties within the broader economy, suggesting that export volumes could continue to fluctuate throughout 2026.
