China emerges as net exporter of chicken, reshaping global meat markets
China turned into a net exporter of chicken last year, offering cheaper protein worldwide and creating new competition for producers in Europe, Thailand and Brazil.
According to customs figures, China became a net exporter of chicken products last year, with export volumes climbing to nearly twice those of 2020. This development provides consumers worldwide with lower-cost protein but pressures foreign producers in Europe, Thailand and Brazil. Experts say the influx of inexpensive Chinese poultry is unsettling the global meat market, echoing Beijing's past strategies in steel and solar panels.
The European Commission has opened an anti-dumping investigation into Chinese duck imports and imposed duties on certain Chinese pea-protein products, though chicken has not yet faced tariffs. Domestic shifts include a sharp decline in pork consumption and a more than 50% rise in per-capita poultry intake over the past decade, driven by government subsidies that now represent a sizable share of Chinese farm income. Record pork output and modest growth in chicken production have left Chinese farms with surplus capacity, prompting firms to seek export markets.
Why it matters
China's new role as a chicken exporter could lower global food prices but intensify trade tensions for meat producers.
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