Business · Trade · 3 hrs ago
China's chicken trade shifts to net exports
China became a net chicken exporter in 2025 after importing more chicken than it exported from 2019 to 2024.
It stayed a net exporter in the first nine months of 2026, with the trend growing.
The shift followed a period of meat shortages after African swine fever hit pork production in 2018, while bird flu also reduced chicken output.
New domestic chicken breeds and more efficient farms have helped raise production and cut costs, reducing reliance on imported breeding stock.
China has also widened its export markets, with first-time shipments of frozen chicken to Azerbaijan last year and Uzbekistan this year.
The change shows China’s chicken industry has become more competitive, even as trade barriers make access to overseas markets difficult.
The outlook is for exports to keep growing, though the story notes that many other Chinese farm products are still net imports.
China shifted from being a net importer of chicken to a net exporter in 2025, and the trend continued through the first three quarters of 2026.
The change followed years of rising imports after African swine fever and avian flu reduced domestic meat supplies.
The article attributes the reversal to improvements in chicken breeds, farm management, production capacity and costs.
Chinese producers have expanded into new markets and exported both frozen cuts and processed products.
Trade barriers remain a challenge, but the article says strong supply chains and global demand support continued export growth.
- Who
- China’s chicken industry and exporters.
- What
- China shifted to net chicken exports in 2025 and remained a net exporter in the first three quarters of 2026.
- When
- The shift began in 2025; net exports continued through the first three quarters of 2026.
- Where
- China and overseas markets, including Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.
- Why
- Improved breeds and farm management increased production capacity and lowered costs, while global consumers sought affordable chicken.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
African swine fever broke out in China, sharply reducing pork production, while avian flu also affected chicken output.
China was a net importer of chicken.
China became a net chicken exporter.
China remained a net exporter, with the trend expanding.
- Net-export shift
- Began in 2025
- Earlier trade position
- Net importer from 2019 to 2024
- 2019 net imports
- US$4.7 billion
- 2023 net imports
- US$24.4 billion
- Domestic breeds
- Three new Chinese white-feather broiler breeds passed approval
- New export markets
- Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan
1 source
What people are saying
鸡肉出口逆袭，表明农产品竞争力是动态变化的