Market research

Tallow market in China

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The tallow market in China saw its volume grow to 224.5 thousand tons in 2019 before gradually declining to 213.4 thousand tons by 2021. A sharp contraction followed in 2022, with market size dropping to 147.6 thousand tons, driven primarily by a steep fall in imports from 79.8 thousand tons to 18.7 thousand tons. Domestic production of tallow, however, demonstrated resilience, increasing from 116.2 thousand tons in 2018 to 134.2 thousand tons in 2023, which helped stabilize the overall market volume at 142.9 thousand tons in 2023.

By 2023, the broader beef cattle industry—a key source of tallow—faced significant headwinds from weakening external demand and insufficient domestic consumption, leading to severe pressure on farm profitability. In response, national authorities rolled out multiple support policies in 2024 aimed at stabilizing meat and dairy cattle production, including measures to secure base capacity, lower feed costs, and strengthen credit insurance. Concurrently, a surge in beef imports, which reached 37% of domestic production by 2024, coupled with a dramatic fall in live cattle prices to a decade-low, intensified competitive pressures on the domestic supply chain.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in China
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in China in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in China in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to China by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to China in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to China by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to China, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to China by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production tallow in China

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

From 2017 to 2020, China ranked as the world's 11th largest producer of tallow.

Top producers of tallow, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of tallow, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

China's tallow production grew for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 129.5 K t of tallow, an increase of 8.4% compared to the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 12.9%, with an average annual growth rate of 4.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	1.3%	2.8%	8.4%	4.1%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, China's tallow output was valued at 191.1 M $ US, up 12.1% from the year before. Between 2017 and 2020, production increased by 13.9%, translating to an annualized rate of 4.4%. The largest drop occurred in 2019, at 0.7%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2.3%	(0.7%)	12.1%	4.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports tallow from China

Exports in kind, K t

In 2020, China's tallow exports amounted to 0.2 K t, a sharp decline of 66.1% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports fell by 58.9%, with an average annual decrease of 25.7%. The peak volume was recorded in 2019 at 0.7 K t, which also saw the largest increase of 26.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(4.0%)	26.3%	(66.1%)	(25.7%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, China's tallow exports in volume were dominated by the United Arab Emirates and Israel, which together made up 81.1% of total flows, while other markets contributed the remainder.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, China's tallow exports reached 358 K $ US, down 65.0% compared to the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 58.5%, equivalent to an annualized decline of 25.4%. The highest value was in 2019 at 1 021 K $ US, which also experienced the largest increase of 22.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(3.0%)	22.0%	(65.0%)	(25.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

Throughout 2017-2020, the United Arab Emirates and Israel were the primary partners for China's tallow exports in value terms, accounting for 81.8% of total flows combined, with other partners making up the rest.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports tallow to China

Imports in kind, K t

In 2020, China imported approximately 90.1 K t of tallow, a significant drop of 14.8% from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 15.7%, with an average annual decline of 5.6%. The largest increase occurred in 2019, at 9.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(9.3%)	9.0%	(14.8%)	(5.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Australia and New Zealand supplied the vast majority of China's tallow imports in volume, jointly accounting for 99.1% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

China's tallow import value rose for the second consecutive year. In 2020, imports totaled 60 879 K $ US, a modest increase of 4.0% over the past year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 10.4%, equating to an annualized decline of 3.6%. The lowest value was in 2018 at 60 879 K $ US, which also saw the largest drop of 16.3%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(16.3%)	3.1%	4.0%	(3.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Over 2017-2020, Australia and New Zealand were the main sources for China's tallow imports in value terms, together representing 99.2% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io