Non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat market in Eastern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The market for non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat in Eastern Asia contracted sharply between 2019 and 2020, with volume falling from 3.5 million t to 2.8 million t. This decline was primarily driven by the African swine fever outbreak, which drastically reduced the hog herd and constrained the supply of raw material. The scarcity pushed up prices for lean pork and accelerated industry efforts to utilize lower-fat carcasses.

Production and market volume rebounded strongly from 2021 onward, reaching 3.7 million t by 2023. This recovery was supported by the restoration of hog productivity, measured by rising pigs per sow per year, which eased raw material constraints. Concurrently, regulatory momentum, including the upcoming GB 2760-2024 food additive standard and the 2024 revision of the hog production capacity adjustment plan, prompted processors to reformulate products toward leaner profiles and encouraged the launch of new low-fat pork segments.

In 2024, further regulatory measures took effect, such as restrictions on live hog transport and the official implementation of trans-fat limits, which continued to shape supply chains and product labeling. The national weight management guidelines also reinforced consumer awareness of low-fat diets, sustaining demand for lean pork ingredients.

Production non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat in Eastern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat, 2017-2020

World map of production of non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat, 2017-2020

Eastern Asia's production of non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat has declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the region produced 2 678 thousand tons, marking a 2.8% decrease compared to 2019. Looking at the broader period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 22.4%, which translates to an average annual decline of 8.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the output of non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat in Eastern Asia was valued at 3 518 million US dollars, showing a controlled decline of 8.5% from the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production value decreased by 10.3%, averaging a 3.5% annualized rate. The largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 2.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Exports non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat from Eastern Asia

Exports in kind, K t

The market for exports in kind showed noticeable fluctuations during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.1 thousand tons and peaked in 2018 at 0.5 thousand tons, resulting in a 6.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, deliveries from Eastern Asia totaled 0.2 thousand tons, reflecting a sharp increase of 99.1% compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with a drop of 83.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, Thailand and Vietnam formed the core group of markets for exports in kind, jointly accounting for 4.1% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, M $ US

Market behavior was characterized by volatility during these years. Exports hit their lowest point in 2019 at 0.1 million US dollars and peaked in 2018 at 0.5 million US dollars, with a 4.8-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Eastern Asia exported 0.2 million US dollars of non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat, up by 87.4% from the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a decrease of 79.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, Thailand (3.0% of exports in value terms), Laos (0.8% of exports in value terms), and Asia, not elsewhere specified (0.7% of exports in value terms) played leading roles in the value-based exports of non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat from Eastern Asia, jointly accounting for 4.5% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat to Eastern Asia

Imports in kind, K t

The import market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 79.3 thousand tons and peaked in 2019 at 180.0 thousand tons, with a 2.3-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Eastern Asia imported a total of value_last_year thousand tons, marking a significant decline of 18.7% compared to the previous year. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, with a drop of 20.6%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 127.1%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, the leading destinations for imports in kind of non-rendered pig fat free of lean meat to Eastern Asia were Canada (31.4% of imports in kind), Spain (17.4% of imports in kind), and the United States (11.2% of imports in kind), which together accounted for 60.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, M $ US

There were noticeable fluctuations in market performance during the period. Import volumes varied 2.5 times, from the low in 2018 at 101.7 million US dollars to the high in 2020 at approximately 258.9 million US dollars. In 2020, Eastern Asia imported around 258.9 million US dollars, reflecting a negligible variation compared to 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018, with a decrease of 7.0%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019, with a rise of 153.3%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Throughout 2017–2020, the three largest markets — Canada, Spain, and the United States — remained central to imports in value terms, together accounting for 62.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Eastern Asia in value, 2017-2020