U.S. poultry and egg exports have faced major headwinds over the past few years, with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at the center of the industry's ongoing struggles. According to Greg Tyler, president and CEO of the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council (USAPEEC), the virus continues to disrupt market access, production, and international trade momentum.

"The effect on the turkey industry has been especially devastating," Tyler noted, emphasizing that South Dakota and Minnesota have seen some of the worst impacts from repeated outbreaks. These disruptions have extended to the egg sector as well, where volatility in supply drove egg prices sharply higher in late 2024 and early 2025.

While prices have since stabilized, the export outlook remains challenging. "That's a good thing for us," Tyler said, "because that allows us to export more product globally again."

Regionalization Offers Some Relief

Despite the setbacks, progress has been made on keeping trade flowing from unaffected regions. Since the last major outbreak, the U.S. has established 80 regionalization agreements with trading partners, allowing exports from non-infected areas to continue.

Top destinations for U.S. poultry remain Mexico, Canada, and several parts of Asia. However, the loss of access to China - due to both sanitary and political barriers - has been a major blow. In 2022, the U.S. poultry and egg sector reached a record $6.2 billion in exports, but that figure slipped to approximately $5.5 billion in 2023 and 2024.

Chicken Paws: A Billion-Dollar Product

Tyler pointed to chicken paws as a prime example of what's at stake. Considered a delicacy in China, chicken paws can fetch up to $3 per pound in that market - compared to just 8-9 cents per pound in the U.S. pet food rendering stream.

"That's over $1 billion in annual export value," Tyler said. "It's a really important market for our industry and one that we hope ongoing trade negotiations will help us reopen."

Europe Still Closed to U.S. Poultry

Another market that remains shut off is Europe, which blocked U.S. poultry back in 1997, citing food safety standards. At the time, the market was worth around $50 million annually. The main issue today is Europe's ban on antimicrobial agents - including those commonly used in U.S. processing to control salmonella.

Although the U.S. no longer uses chlorinated water in processing - a former point of criticism - barriers remain. "We need to demonstrate that these antimicrobials produce safe, wholesome products, just like what U.S. consumers are eating daily," Tyler said.

Looking Ahead: Trade Negotiations Are Key

With China, Europe, and other key markets presenting regulatory challenges, non-tariff barriers have become the new front line in agricultural trade. Tyler stressed the need for diplomacy and science-based standards to guide future agreements.

"Whether it's chicken paws or shell eggs, we want our trading partners to know: if it's good enough for the U.S. consumer, it's good enough for theirs," Tyler concluded.

As the global poultry market evolves, U.S. competitiveness will depend on how quickly these hurdles can be cleared - and how effectively the industry can contain HPAI outbreaks in the seasons ahead.