Russia’s pork export revenue to China rises 1.4 times in first half of 2026
Russia exported $50.2 million of pork products to China in January-June 2026, 1.4 times the year-earlier level. The country remained China’s fourth-largest supplier and narrowed the gap with the United Kingdom, while June revenue declined both year on year and from May.
Russian revenue reaches $50.2 million
Russia exported $50.2 million worth of pork products to China in January-June 2026, 1.4 times the $35.7 million recorded a year earlier, Interfax reported, citing data from China’s General Administration of Customs. The increase extended the growth of a trade channel that opened only in April 2024.
Russia retained fourth place among China’s leading pork suppliers during the first half. Its revenue moved close to that of the United Kingdom, which supplied $53.7 million of pork products. The difference between the two countries was $3.5 million, putting Russia within reach of the top three by value if its recent pace can be maintained.
Spain and Brazil remain the largest suppliers
China purchased pork products from 17 countries in January-June. Spain led the supplier ranking with sales of $241.1 million, followed by Brazil at $125.8 million. Both remained substantially ahead of Russia and the United Kingdom, showing that the Chinese import market is still concentrated around established suppliers despite Russia’s rapid revenue growth.
Russia’s $50.2 million represented about one fifth of Spain’s reported sales and less than half of Brazil’s. For Russian producers and traders, the comparison highlights both the progress made since market access was restored and the scale of the remaining gap with the two largest suppliers.
June revenue falls from May and the prior year
The half-year increase did not translate into uninterrupted monthly growth. Russian export revenue from pork shipments to China fell to $9.2 million in June, compared with $10.2 million in June 2025. It was also below the $10.8 million recorded in May 2026, the highest monthly result reported for the current year.
The June decline means that the strong first-half comparison was supported by gains accumulated earlier in the period. For exporters, monthly revenue will be an important indicator of whether the expansion continues during the second half or begins to level off after the initial build-up in shipments.
Market access expands to another Russian plant
Russian pork first entered the Chinese market in April 2024 after China lifted its import ban in autumn 2023. Initial approval was granted to three companies: Miratorg, Tambovsky Bacon, part of the Rusagro group, and Velikoluksky Meat Processing Plant. Miratorg became the first Russian exporter to begin shipments.
In July 2026, Kursk Meat Processing Plant was added to the list of eligible exporters. The additional approval broadens the group of Russian processors able to serve China and could support further competition for contracts, although the customs figures provided report shipment value rather than physical volume.
Russia exported $86.5 million of pork products to China in 2025, 1.6 times the $53.3 million recorded in 2024. The $50.2 million earned in the first six months of 2026 is already equivalent to more than half of the full-year 2025 value. The next test will be whether additional approved capacity and access can offset the softer monthly result seen in June.
