Overview
The US turkey shortage continues to intensify, leaving buyers scrambling for limited supplies of parts and raw materials. As processors face multiple challenges—from reduced poult placements to disease pressures—year-to-date slaughter figures have hit record lows. This scarcity has filtered through the supply chain, affecting everything from frozen whole birds to highly sought-after items like turkey necks, tails, and specialty cuts.
Impact of HPAI on US Turkey Exports and Pricing
Recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) have complicated the picture. Some processors, restricted from exporting their production, have found themselves competing in the domestic market with more aggressive price offers. In contrast, those still able to export are holding out for premiums. The resulting price variability, especially for frozen whole turkeys, underscores the US turkey shortage and the market’s fractured nature.
Limited Turkey Parts and Scarce Raw Materials
Processors report persistent difficulties meeting buyer requests for turkey parts. Frozen parts are especially scarce, with buyers often left empty-handed. Fresh parts are only marginally easier to source—fresh wings, for instance, require diligent searching. Neck and tail cuts are snapped up quickly by the grinding sector, often at premium prices, highlighting the ongoing US turkey shortage and the bullish sentiment around turkey-based ingredients.
Increasing Demand for Turkey Breasts and Specialty Cuts
As HPAI impacts turkey meat production, processors are competing to secure enough breast meat to honor contracts and satisfy internal needs. Consequently, prices for fresh and frozen breast meat have trended upward, supported by dwindling inventories. Export movement of frozen breast meat has slowed as supplies shrink, while lower-cost frozen tenders have gained popularity and seen increased trading at higher prices.
Fresh and frozen thigh meat remain insufficient to meet buyer requests. However, opinions vary on pricing depending on a given processor’s market exposure. Meanwhile, breast trim, wing meat, and scapula cuts remain in high demand. Sellers offering fresh and frozen scapula have achieved premium prices, reflecting the US turkey shortage and ongoing market competition. Mechanically Separated Turkey (MST) also sees buoyant pricing due to limited availability.
Outlook: A Market Under Pressure
The US turkey shortage shows no sign of easing as the holiday season unfolds. With inventories already tight and production constrained by disease and lower poult placements, the market is bracing for continued upward pressure on prices. Whether buyers seek whole birds, specialty parts, or value-added cuts, securing supplies in this challenging environment requires flexibility, persistence, and a willingness to pay a premium.
Written by Elsi Rodewald
