China's Meat Import Performance in October 2025 and January–October 2025 Overview
China's Meat Import Performance in October 2025 and January–October 2025 Overview
China's latest customs statistics reveal notable shifts across beef, pork, Pork Offal, mutton, and poultry imports in October 2025, alongside structural adjustments and price dynamics observed throughout the first ten months of the year.
Beef Imports
1. Import Volume and Structure
In October 2025, China imported 281,000 tonnes of beef, down 35,000 tonnes (11%) month-on-month but up 44,000 tonnes (18.6%) year-on-year. Import value reached US$1.55 billion, declining 11% month-on-month yet rising 37.5% year-on-year.
From January to October 2025, total beef imports reached 2.406 million tonnes, an increase of 65,000 tonnes (2.8%) year-on-year. Import value totalled US$12.65 billion, up 13.4% year-on-year, with an average import price of US$5,258/tonne, up 10.3% year-on-year.
During this period, frozen boneless beef imports increased 3.7% year-on-year, while frozen bone-in and chilled beef decreased by 0.8% and 1.3% respectively. Frozen boneless beef accounted for 80.8% of total imports, up 0.8 percentage points year-on-year.
2. Import Price
In October, beef import prices remained unchanged month-on-month at US$5,508/tonne, marking a 16% year-on-year increase, a 7% rise since the beginning of the year, and a 17% increase from the November 2024 low (US$4,716/tonne), indicating continuous recovery.
3. Importing Countries
In the first ten months of 2025, China imported 2.41 million tonnes of beef from 20 countries, up 2.8% year-on-year. Brazil, Argentina, Australia, Uruguay, and New Zealand supplied 2.18 million tonnes (91% of the total), with Brazil accounting for 1.21 million tonnes (50%). Imports from Brazil, Australia, Colombia, and Russia increased by approximately 15%, 46%, 1,802%, and 11% respectively. Imports from Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Bolivia, New Zealand, the United States, and Belarus declined, with U.S. imports falling below 55,000 tonnes, down nearly 52%—the largest decrease.
Pork Imports
1. Import Volume and Structure
In October 2025, pork imports fell to 71,000 tonnes, down 9,000 tonnes (11%) month-on-month and 19,000 tonnes (21%) year-on-year, marking the second-lowest monthly level since 2019. Import value reached US$144 million, down 11.8% month-on-month and 25% year-on-year.
From January to October, pork imports reached 859,000 tonnes, down 30,000 tonnes (3.4%) year-on-year; import value was US$1.75 billion, down 0.7% year-on-year. The average import price rose 2.7% year-on-year to US$2,033/tonne.
Frozen bone-in pork forelegs, hindlegs and cuts totalled nearly 220,000 tonnes, up approximately 11% year-on-year and representing nearly 26% of total imports. Imports of other frozen pork products declined nearly 7% year-on-year, while pork fat imports fell 35% to below 10,000 tonnes, representing 1.15% of the total.
2. Import Price
October import prices decreased to US$2,019/tonne, continuing month-on-month decline and down nearly 5% year-on-year.
3. Importing Countries
China imported pork from 17 countries during the first ten months of 2025. The top ten were Spain, Brazil, the Netherlands, Chile, the UK, Canada, Denmark, the U.S., France, and Russia. Imports from Brazil, Chile, Canada, and the U.S. fell by approximately 33%, 4%, 2%, and 11% respectively. Imports from Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, and France increased by 0%–6%. Imports from the UK and Russia surged nearly 21% and 90% respectively.
Import of Pork Offal
1. Import Volume and Structure
In October 2025, pork offal imports fell to 84,600 tonnes, down 8% month-on-month and 9% year-on-year. Import value was US$180 million, down 4.2% month-on-month and 14% year-on-year.
From January to October, imports reached 938,000 tonnes, down 2.4% year-on-year, with import value totalling US$1.98 billion, down 5.3%. The average price stood at US$2,112/tonne, down 3%.
2. Import Price
In October, prices rebounded to US$2,149/tonne, up 4.4% month-on-month but down 5.4% year-on-year.
3. Importing Countries
China sourced pork offal from 15 countries in the first ten months. The top ten were the U.S., Spain, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, France, the UK, Chile, Russia, and Ireland. Imports from the U.S. fell 18% year-on-year, accounting for 22% of total imports. Imports from the UK, Russia, and Belgium grew significantly by approximately 11%, 260%, and 69% respectively.
Mutton Imports
1. Import Volume and Structure
In October 2025, mutton imports reached 17,396 tonnes, up 0.1% month-on-month but down 28% year-on-year. Import value was US$70.36 million, down 0.6% month-on-month but up 14% year-on-year.
From January to October, mutton imports totalled 294,000 tonnes, down 6,600 tonnes (2%) year-on-year. Import value reached US$1.13 billion (up 20%), with average price rising 23% to US$3,858/tonne. Chilled mutton imports reached 1,393 tonnes, up nearly 140% year-on-year, with its share rising to 0.5%.
2. Import Price
In October, price declined to US$4,045/tonne, down 0.7% month-on-month but up 20% year-on-year.
3. Importing Countries
China imported mutton from six countries: New Zealand, Australia, Uruguay, Chile, Madagascar, and Argentina. Australia supplied 147,000 tonnes (50%), while New Zealand supplied 144,000 tonnes (nearly 49%).
Import of Poultry Products
1. Import Volume and Structure
In October, poultry imports fell to 19,700 tonnes, down 8% month-on-month and 71% year-on-year. Import value was US$64.09 million, down 2.7% month-on-month and 71% year-on-year.
From January to October, China imported 560,000 tonnes of poultry products, down 200,000 tonnes (26%) year-on-year. Import value totalled US$1.7 billion, down 29%. Frozen bone-in chicken pieces totalled 53,000 tonnes, down 31% year-on-year, with their share falling to 9.4%. Imports were zero in September and October.
2. Import Price
In October:
Frozen chicken feet prices rose 4.3% month-on-month to US$3,375/tonne, down 10.8% year-on-year.
Frozen chicken wings prices increased 12.6% month-on-month and 7.7% year-on-year to US$3,314/tonne.
Frozen bone-in chicken blocks remained at zero volume.
Price recovery was mainly driven by higher pricing from Thailand, whose share of frozen chicken feet imports increased from 14% to 22%, and wings imports from 26% to 37%.
3. Importing Countries
China imported poultry from twelve countries. Major suppliers were Brazil, Russia, Thailand, the U.S., Belarus, Chile, Argentina, Uzbekistan, Finland, Kyrgyzstan, France, and Panama. Chile, Argentina, and Finland newly entered the import list. Imports from Brazil fell 35% year-on-year (52% share). Imports from the U.S. and Belarus fell about 70%, each accounting for less than 3% of total imports. Imports from Russia increased 15% year-on-year to nearly 24% of total.