Pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat market in China, 2026

Earlier Report Observations

African swine fever outbreaks in 2018 led to widespread culling and accelerated marketings by small farms, causing a sharp decline in pig inventories and subsequent production drop by 2019. The epidemic's prolonged impact kept herd numbers low through 2020, slowing capacity recovery as the industry remained dominated by small-scale breeders with limited modernization.

From 2021, production rebounded strongly as the domestic breeding pig industry developed rapidly, improving genetics, scale, and farming efficiency. This expansion in breeding stock and enhanced operational practices supported sustained output growth, with major players like Xinwufeng significantly increasing their slaughter volumes through aggressive capacity expansion and cost-control measures.

By 2023, industry consolidation intensified despite widespread financial losses, as large-scale farms continued to grow their market share. The sector's shift toward规模化,集约化 production, coupled with ongoing investments in technology and management, underpinned further output increases even as consumer preferences gradually shifted toward higher-protein, lower-fat meat options.

Production pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat in China

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, China maintained the second-highest global position in production volume for pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat.

Top producers of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat, 2017-2020

World map of production of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat, 2017-2020

China's production of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 2 413 K t, marking a 3.3% decrease from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 24.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -9.0%.

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

Exports pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat from China

Exports in kind, K t

In 2018, China's export volume of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat was 0.5 K t, representing a 64.0% increase compared to the year before.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, China's exports of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat were primarily directed towards Mongolia, which accounted for 100.0% of total exports in kind.

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

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

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2018, China's exports of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat reached 0.5 M $ US, showing a sharp increase of 34.0% year-over-year.

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

Throughout 2017-2020, Mongolia dominated the partner structure for exports in value terms, consistently representing 100.0% of total flows.

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

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

Imports pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat to China

Imports in kind, K t

The market displayed an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2018 at 11.4 K t and peaked in 2019 at 113.6 K t, resulting in a tenfold variation. In 2020, China imported approximately 88.7 K t, down by 21.9% year-over-year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 73.9%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 898.5%.

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

From 2017 to 2020, Spain (27.6% of imports in kind), Germany (14.5%), and Canada (12.9%) together absorbed 55.0% of China's total imports in kind of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat, making them the primary sources.

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

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

Imports in value, M $ US

The market exhibited volatility over the observed period. Imports bottomed in 2018 at 8.2 M $ US and peaked in 2019 at 151.9 M $ US, differing by a factor of 19. In 2020, China imported 140.3 M $ US, reflecting a 7.6% reduction compared to the previous year. The largest decline was in 2018 at 76.9%, and the largest increase was in 2019 at 1 753.8%.

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

Between 2017 and 2020, Spain (28.6% of imports in value terms), Germany (14.3%), and Canada (11.9%) together accounted for 54.7% of China's total imports in value terms of pig fat free of lean meat and poultry fat, establishing them as the main directions.

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

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