Mexico overtakes China as world's largest pork importer as meat consumption climbs

Mexico overtakes China as the world's largest pork buyer

Global pork trade has undergone a radical realignment over the past decade, according to a study by the Agricultural Market Information Company (AMI) cited by agrodigital.com. Mexico now sits at the top of the world's pork importer ranking, having nearly doubled its purchased volumes in ten years, while China has retreated from the record buying that defined its market after African swine fever (ASF).

AMI projects that the five largest importers will hold roughly steady in aggregate during 2026, together buying about 5.7 million tonnes — the same figure as the previous year. Beneath that stability, however, lie sharp shifts between individual countries that are redrawing the geography of pork trade.

Mexico's demand hits a record

Mexico leads with a forecast 1.72 million tonnes in 2026, a historic high. The country has almost doubled its annual imports compared with a decade ago, making it the most dynamic source of demand in the global market. Japan holds second place, with the study describing its purchases as steady and predictable year after year, without significant swings.

The import surge tracks rising domestic appetite. In 2025 Mexico consolidated its position as one of the world's largest consumers of meat protein, with each resident eating an average of 77 kilos of meat a year across chicken, beef and pork, according to reporting cited by agrodigital.com.

China's retreat reshapes flows

China, now in third place, presents a completely different picture from the previous decade. The spread of ASF between 2018 and 2020 forced massive imports, peaking at 5.3 million tonnes in 2020 to offset internal losses. Since then the country has systematically rebuilt its domestic hog production, steadily cutting its reliance on foreign supply. For 2026, AMI estimates Chinese imports at just 1 million tonnes, a reflection of that internal recovery.

The Philippines and South Korea round out the list of leading importers, both at volumes well below the top three. The two Asian markets post slight increases in their import figures but remain minor players in global demand.

What it means for trade flows

For importers and exporters, the message is a redirection of trade toward the Americas. With aggregate demand from the top five buyers flat at 5.7 million tonnes, Mexico's record 1.72 million tonnes absorbs volume that once flowed to China. Suppliers exposed to the Chinese market face a lasting decline in that outlet, while Mexico and Japan offer the steadier, growing destinations.