China emerges as major poultry exporter with competitive pricing

China has transitioned from a major food importer to a net exporter of poultry, with chicken exports reaching $2.6 billion last year. This growth represents a nearly twofold increase in export value since 2020.

Driven by state subsidies and increased production capacity, China exported 1.085 million tons of chicken meat last year while importing only 297,000 tons. The surge in production follows structural changes in the domestic meat industry after the 2018 African swine fever outbreak. Government support, which accounted for approximately 13 percent of total gross agricultural receipts between 2022 and 2024, has helped large-scale corporate farms build significant surpluses.

This shift is impacting global market dynamics, particularly for traditional leaders like Brazil and Thailand. Chinese processors are leveraging lower production costs to offer significant discounts; some companies report prices up to $1,000 per ton lower than competitors. Chinese exporters are primarily targeting price-sensitive markets in Africa and Europe, often shipping cuts like chicken breast that are less favored by domestic Chinese consumers.