China's May Meat Imports Show Beef Gains, Pork Declines

China's meat import market continued to diverge in May 2026, with beef maintaining growth in both volume and value while pork, lamb and poultry imports remained under pressure. Rising import prices, shifting product structures and changing supplier shares further reshaped the country's import landscape during the first five months of the year.

Beef Imports Rise As Prices Reach Highest Level Since 2023

China imported 207,000 tonnes of beef in May 2026, down 0.8% from April but up 6.4% year on year. Import value climbed to US$1.34 billion, increasing 4.6% month on month and 35.1% from a year earlier.

During the first five months of 2026, beef imports reached 1.285 million tonnes, up 18.4% year on year, while import value rose 35% to US$7.49 billion.

Import structure also shifted. Fresh or chilled boneless beef imports declined 8.2% during January-May, reducing their share of total beef imports to 2.1%, down 0.6 percentage points from the same period last year, while total beef imports increased 18%.

Average beef import prices climbed to US$6,465 per tonne in May, the highest level since 2023, rising 5.4% from April and 27% from a year earlier. Frozen bone-in beef and fresh or chilled bone-in beef recorded particularly strong annual price increases of 44% and 35%, respectively.

China imported beef from 16 countries in May. Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay and New Zealand remained the five largest suppliers. Import volumes from Brazil, Argentina and Australia increased approximately 16%, 21% and 15% year on year, while shipments from Uruguay and New Zealand declined about 22% and 16%, respectively.

Pork Imports Fall To Lowest May Level Since 2019

China imported 66,500 tonnes of pork in May 2026, down 5.7% from April and 29% from a year earlier, marking the lowest May import volume since 2019. Import value reached US$134 million, increasing 4.3% month on month but declining 27.4% year on year.

During the first five months, pork imports totaled 315,000 tonnes, down 30% year on year, while import value fell 30.4% to US$630 million.

Product composition continued to change. Imports of fat pork and pork fat plunged 91% during January-May, reducing their share of total pork imports to 0.18%, as overall pork imports declined 30%.

Average pork import prices rose to US$2,022 per tonne in May, up 1.5% from April and 2.3% from a year earlier. Frozen pork leg prices averaged US$1,608 per tonne, down 8.7% year on year, while other frozen pork products averaged US$2,170 per tonne, up 6.6%.

China imported pork from 17 countries in May, with total imports falling 29% year on year. Spain, Brazil, the United States, Russia and Canada ranked as the largest suppliers. Imports from the United States and Russia increased approximately 6% and 38%, while shipments from Spain, Brazil and Canada declined about 33%, 32% and 41%, respectively.

Pork By-Product Imports Remain Relatively Stable

China imported 99,100 tonnes of pork by-products in May 2026, down 6.8% from April and 0.1% from a year earlier. Import value totaled US$180 million, decreasing 6.9% month on month and 12.9% year on year.

Imports reached 466,000 tonnes during the first five months, down 1.8% year on year, while import value fell 12.9% to US$872 million. Demand for pork by-products remained comparatively resilient, with import declines significantly smaller than those recorded for pork and lamb.

Average import prices stood at US$1,816 per tonne in May, unchanged from April but 12.8% lower than a year earlier.

China sourced pork by-products from 16 countries in May. The United States, Spain, Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands ranked as the top suppliers. Import volumes from the United States, Canada and Denmark increased approximately 24%, 18% and 10% year on year, while imports from Spain and the Netherlands declined about 24% and 19%, respectively.

Lamb Imports Continue To Contract Despite Higher Prices

China imported 25,338 tonnes of lamb in May 2026, down 26.5% from April and 27.6% from a year earlier, marking the lowest May import volume since 2019. Import value declined 24% month on month and 7.8% year on year to US$120 million.

During January-May, lamb imports totaled 139,000 tonnes, down 24.6% year on year, while import value fell 9.4% to US$633 million.

Frozen bone-in mutton accounted for more than 80% of China's lamb imports. Its import decline remained smaller than that of frozen boneless mutton, frozen whole and half carcass mutton, frozen lamb and goat meat, increasing its share of total lamb imports. During the first five months, frozen bone-in mutton imports reached 114,000 tonnes, down 21.4%, while its share rose to 82.3%.

Average lamb import prices increased to US$4,754 per tonne in May, up 3.4% from April and 27.4% year on year, reaching the highest level since 2023.

New Zealand supplied 13,915 tonnes of lamb in May, down 21.4% year on year, accounting for 54.9% of China's imports, up 4.4 percentage points from a year earlier. Australia supplied 11,217 tonnes, down 34.5%, with its share declining 4.7 percentage points to 44.3%.

Poultry Imports Decline Sharply While Brazil Strengthens Market Share

China imported 58,000 tonnes of poultry meat in May 2026, down 0.4% from April and 10.7% year on year. Import value reached US$176 million, up 1.7% month on month but down 8.7% from a year earlier.

During the first five months, poultry imports fell 33.1% year on year to 241,000 tonnes, while import value declined 32.1% to US$731 million. Among pork, poultry and lamb, poultry recorded the steepest declines in both import volume and value.

Import composition continued to shift. Poultry imports fell 33% during January-May, with frozen chicken wings declining about 10% and frozen chicken feet and other chicken by-products falling nearly 40%. Frozen chicken wings surpassed frozen chicken feet in import share, accounting for 44.1% of total poultry imports, while frozen chicken feet accounted for 41.1% and other chicken by-products 8.3%. Chicken by-products represented nearly 94% of poultry imports during the period. Frozen bone-in chicken cuts declined 70.5%, reducing their share to 5.1%.

Price trends diverged across products. Frozen chicken feet averaged US$3,280 per tonne in May, rebounding 4.6% from April while remaining 6.3% below the level a year earlier, marking the lowest price for the corresponding period since 2022. Frozen chicken wings averaged US$3,504 per tonne, up 2.4% month on month and 9.9% year on year, reaching the highest level since May 2024. Frozen bone-in chicken cuts averaged US$1,311 per tonne, down 1.9% from April but 1% higher than a year earlier.

Following the lifting of China's ban on Brazilian poultry imports in November 2025, poultry shipments from Brazil increased sharply, rapidly restoring the country's market share. China imported 46,897 tonnes of poultry from Brazil in May, accounting for about 81% of total poultry imports.

Overall poultry imports declined approximately 11% year on year in May. Brazil, Russia and Thailand remained the three largest suppliers. Imports from Brazil increased nearly 23%, lifting its market share to almost 81%, while shipments from Russia and Thailand fell 50% and 64%, reducing their shares to 12% and 6%, respectively.