Marlee Moore
(334) 613-4219

As China lifts its ban on U.S. poultry imports, Alabama’s over 2,700 poultry farmers are set to benefit from increased, stable market access.

Alabama Farmers Federation Poultry Division Director Russ Durrance applauded the announcement Nov. 14.

“Alabama is second nationally in broiler production, processing 21 million birds per week,” Durrance said. “Our farmers grow healthy, safe protein that’s vital to feeding a growing population. Access to Chinese markets is good for our economy, and it’s good for Alabama farmers.”

China banned all U.S. poultry in January 2015 because of an avian influenza outbreak in December 2014. The U.S. has been free of this disease since August 2017. Previously, America exported over $500 million in poultry products to China in 2013.

The U.S. is the world’s second-largest poultry exporter, with global exports of poultry meat and products totaling $4.3 billion in 2018.

“After being shut out of the market for years, U.S. poultry producers and exporters welcome the reopening of China’s market to their products,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “America’s producers are the most productive in the world, and it is critical they be able to sell their bounty to consumers in other parts of the globe. We will continue our work to expand market access in important markets like China, as well as other countries, to support our producers and U.S. jobs.”