trade and export

Bulgaria’s foie gras market is overwhelmingly export‑oriented. The 2019 CAAI petition noted that Bulgaria has no tradition of eating foie gras and almost all production is exported[3]. Trade statistics corroborate this.

Canada exports most of its foie gras, with the United States as the primary destination. AÉCOQ reports that in 2017, exports totalled 2,181 tonnes of duck meat, of which 33 % was foie gras[9]. The WITS database shows that Canada exported 307,284 kg of frozen duck and goose offal in 2024, worth US$5.74 million, with the United States purchasing nearly US$5.5 million and smaller volumes going to Singapore, Japan and Bonaire[32]. In 2023 the category’s exports were 296,043 kg worth US$6.14 million, again almost entirely to the United States[36]. Earlier years show higher volumes: 4.5 million kg in 2010[31] and 5.0 million kg in 2015[37], suggesting a decline. The broad HS code includes duck hearts, fat and other offal, so the numbers overstate foie gras but illustrate export dependence. Trade is sensitive to policy changes. The California sales ban (effective 2012) initially barred any sale of force‑fed foie gras in the state. Quebec producers, via AECOQ, sued California, arguing federal pre‑emption; the Ninth Circuit rejected their claims but clarified that out‑of‑state internet sales where title passes outside California are permitted[22]. When a federal court briefly struck down the ban in 2015, Quebec producers described California as 25 % of the U.S. market worth about CA$2 million in revenue[35]. The ban’s reinstatement reduced restaurant sales but not mail‑order shipments. Canada does not import significant quantities of foie gras; domestic supply and imports from France compete for a small gourmet market.

Spain is simultaneously an exporter and a net importer of foie gras. Key trade features: Export volume and value. Spain exported around 10 % of production—€2.6 million in 2019[16], €3.6 million in 2021[14], €2.65 million to the EU and €1.00 million to non‑EU countries in 2022[26], and €4.1 million in 2023[2]. Exports are primarily of raw frozen livers and processed products. Destinations. Producers export to around 40–48 countries, with top destinations being Japan and France, according to industry interviews[4]. Other markets include the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, Hong Kong and China[21][19]. Malvasía noted that countries in the Americas, Japan and Hong Kong represented more than 20 % of its sales in 2018[21]. Interpalm reports that exports to EU countries were €2.653 million in 2022 and exports to third countries €1.002 million[26]. Imports. Spain imports much more foie gras than it exports. In 2025 a parliamentary debate noted that Spain produces 525 tonnes but consumes around 3 000 tonnes, meaning the difference (≈2 500 t) is imported[27]. France is the principal supplier; French producers view Spain as a major export market. Spain also imports day‑old ducklings from France[24]. Trade sensitivity. Because exports are a small fraction of production, Spanish producers are less exposed to foreign bans than producers in France or Hungary. However, reputational campaigns in key markets (e.g., Japan) could disrupt growth. In 2014 India banned the import of foie gras, forcing Spanish producers to seek alternative markets. Switzerland’s 2025 rule requiring labelling foie gras produced by force‑feeding could set a precedent[28].

U.S. foie gras producers serve mainly domestic customers. Export volumes are modest: Fresh/chilled fatty liver exports: In 2019 the United States exported ≈21 656 kg of “fresh or chilled fatty livers of ducks/geese” worth US$16 400[28]. In 2022 exports were ≈20 977 kg valued at US$20 350[8]. The top destinations were Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda, reflecting demand in Caribbean resorts and cruise lines. Prepared foie gras imports: In 2022 the U.S. imported ≈398 975 kg of prepared/preserved liver (HS 160220) worth US$4.1 million[9], primarily from Canada (US$3.2 million), Croatia, Brazil, New Zealand and France. Imports exceed exports by a factor of twenty, indicating that U.S. chefs rely heavily on imported product, especially since California’s ban prohibits in‑state sales of domestic foie gras. Export dependence: Only a small portion of U.S. production is exported. HVFG and La Belle rely on high‑end restaurants in New York, Las Vegas and other cities. When California banned foie gras, HVFG lost about one‑third of its sales[14]; a New York City ban would have had a similarly devastating effect.