U.S. and World Duck Meat Production Data

According the latest data from FAOSTAT, Statistic Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization, in 2014 the United States was ranked number nine in duck meat production in the world, with a production of 59,398 metric tons (MT) and a share of 1.4% of total world duck meat production (see Figure 1). China (mainland), on the other hand, was ranked as the number one duck meat producer globally, with a production of 2.801 million MT and 64.7% of total world production.  From 2007 to 2014 the United States’ share of duck meat production was about 1.7% (54,725 MT), on average, while China’s share was 65.3% (2.654 million MT), on average. 

U.S. Duck Meat Production

Based on the 2012 Census data published by USDA, 86% of U.S. duck inventories (end of December) were in three states: Indiana (2.278 million head, 45%), California (1.399 million head, 28%), Pennsylvania (0.628 million head, 13%).  In contrast Iowa’s duck inventory was only 0.1% (7,495 head) of total U.S. inventory in 2012. Compared with Indiana, which had 614 farms with duck inventories, Iowa had 458 operations with duck inventories, indicating Iowa duck operations were very small compared with Indiana’s.

Duck production measured in MT federally inspected of chilled and frozen duck meat, reached a volume of 61,607 MT in 2016. Although production was down 1.3% from 2015 (62,395 MT), it was the second largest production year within the 17 years of available data (see Figure 2).

U.S. Duck Meat Exports

U.S. duck meat export data available from USDA-FAS combines duck meat and duck edible offal exports.  The data indicates the largest import demand is for duck frozen products and not for fresh or chilled products. Since 2013 the main duck product exported by the United States is frozen duck meat and edible offal (not cut in pieces) (DUCKS FRZN), which in 2016 the U.S. exported 5,682 MT and represented 72.2% of total duck meat and offal products exported from the U.S. in 2016 (7,865.4 MT) (see Figure 3). From 2012 to 2015 Mexico was the main international market for U.S. DUCKS FRZN, but in 2016 exports to Canada increased 403% to 2,473 MT while exports to Mexico dropped 2% to 1,173 MT (see Figure 4), making Canada the leading market for U.S. DUCKS FRZN. Overall 2016 U.S. exports of U.S. DUCKS FRZN increased 79% year over year.  In addition, the United Stated exported 1,492 MT of frozen duck meat cuts and edible offal, excluding fatty livers, (DUCK MT/OFL FRZ). In 2016, U.S. exports of DUCK MT/OFL FRZ declined 36% from 2015. The main destinations for U.S. DUCK MT/OFL FRZ are Canada and Mexico, but exports to these markets are often volatile (see Figure 5).

Total U.S. duck meat (and offal) exports from January 2017 to April 2017 declined 5% to 1,987 MT compared with same period last year. US. DUCK MT/OFL FRZ exports increased 29% to 607 MT during the first four months of 2017, since both Canada and Mexico boosted imports by 72% to 120 MT and 264% to 113 MT, respectively, year over year. At the same time, exports of DUCKS FRZN, the leading U.S. duck export commodity, declined 20% to 1,202, on account of Canada reducing their imports by 17% to 360 MT.

Overall U.S. duck meat production is small compared to that of U.S. broiler and U.S. turkey meats. U.S. duck meat exports hinge mainly on the import demand from Canada and Mexico, hence the importance of the NAFTA agreement to keep U.S. duck meat trade afloat.