China’s poultry shipments to Russia surpass reverse trade flow in August
China exported $21.9 million of poultry meat to Russia in August, narrowly exceeding Russia’s $21.5 million of shipments to China. Russia retained the lead for January–August, but declining Russian sales and growing Chinese supplies narrowed the gap to $33.5 million.
Monthly trade balance reverses
China exported $21.9 million of poultry meat to Russia in August, while Russian shipments of the same product to China totaled $21.5 million. The difference was about $400,000, making August the first month of 2026 in which the Chinese flow exceeded trade in the opposite direction, Interfax reported, citing data from China’s General Administration of Customs.
The monthly reversal was narrow and has not yet changed the cumulative balance. During January–August, Russia supplied China with $188.2 million of poultry meat, compared with $154.7 million shipped by China to Russia. Russia therefore retained a lead of $33.5 million over the first eight months.
Russian exports contract sharply
The principal change came from weakening Russian sales. Russia’s poultry export revenue from China fell 1.7-fold from $322 million in January–August 2025 to $188.2 million in the same period of 2026. In August alone, shipments dropped to $21.5 million from $51.5 million a year earlier and $35.5 million in July.
Despite that decline, Russia remained China’s second-largest poultry supplier during the eight-month period. Brazil ranked first with shipments worth $951.9 million, while Thailand placed third at $130.7 million. The figures show that Russia still holds a significant position in the Chinese market, although its lead over Thailand has narrowed.
The 2026 contraction follows growth in the previous full year. Russia exported $445.6 million of poultry meat and offal to China in 2025, up 3.6% from about $430 million in 2024. The August reversal therefore reflects both the current decline in Russian shipments and a longer expansion of Chinese sales in the other direction.
Chinese supplies continue to expand
China increased its January–August poultry exports to Russia to $154.7 million, nearly twice the $86.5 million recorded a year earlier. That represents an increase of approximately $68.2 million. Over the same period, Russian exports to China declined by more than $130 million, bringing the two trade flows much closer together.
Chinese poultry sales to Russia had already been rising before this year. In 2025, China exported $175.4 million of poultry meat and offal to the Russian market, an increase of 39.6% from $125.6 million in 2024. China is both a major poultry buyer and exporter, and Chinese customs data show that its products reach 79 countries.
For producers and traders, the August result is an indicator of changing competitiveness rather than proof of a lasting annual reversal. Future flows will depend on prices, product mix and market-access conditions. If the current trends continue, Russian processors will face greater Chinese competition at home while relying on a Chinese market where their export revenue has fallen substantially.
