In conjunction with the 22nd Americas Food & Beverage Show held recently in Miami, Fla., the American Egg Board (AEB) — the research, education and promotion arm of the U.S. egg industry — is highlighting the business benefits of U.S. eggs and egg products to an international audience to further support American egg producers’ export efforts. 

The AFB show attracts more than 11,000 decision-making buyers from 94 countries, offering a comprehensive seminar schedule on industry trend topics and an exhibition hall with 400 booths. This provides an opportunity for U.S. egg suppliers to strengthen their global connections and tap new markets, AEB said.

In addition to sponsoring a booth and educational trend session at the AFB show, AEB and partner organization the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) hosted 20 key egg buyers from the Caribbean and Mexico to the U.S. to provide top-notch training on U.S. eggs and to meet one on one with U.S. egg suppliers and producers while in Miami. The sessions will give Caribbean and Mexican buyers firsthand insight into how U.S. eggs and egg products can tap into growing market demand and benefit their businesses’ bottom lines, AEB said.

“The Caribbean and Mexican markets represent a strong growth opportunity for U.S. egg exports. For 2017, the Caribbean ranked third and Mexico ranked fourth in value among U.S. export destinations for table eggs and products. These markets rank behind only Hong Kong and Canada, respectively,” AEB noted.

Exports to the Caribbean accounted for 13.2% of U.S. table egg export volume in 2017. U.S. egg exports to the Caribbean more than quadrupled from 2010 to 2017, reaching $26.9 million in 2017 and accounting for 10.8% of the $249 million total value of U.S. egg exports. Top markets in the Caribbean include the Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, the Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic.

Exports to Mexico accounted for 12.1% of U.S. table egg export volume in 2017, reaching $27 million and accounting for 10.9% of the total value of overall U.S. egg exports in 2017.

“The American Egg Board is excited to pursue growth opportunities in key international markets,” AEB president and chief executive officer Anne Alonzo said. “We welcome the occasion to create educational moments and meaningful connections with buyers from the Caribbean and Mexico, and — with the support of partners like USAPEEC — to bring fresh, new insight into our powerhouse protein at Americas Food & Beverage Show.”