In a recent report from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, it has been projected that China will witness a substantial increase in poultry imports in 2024. The anticipated decline in chicken meat production within the country is expected to drive this surge in imports.
One of the primary factors affecting domestic production, particularly of white broilers, is the import restrictions imposed by the People’s Republic of China on avian genetics and related materials. These restrictions have been put in place as part of efforts to curb the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). Additionally, the Chinese government has been actively closing live poultry markets across the nation, a move that is likely to impact the production of yellow broilers.
As a result of these challenges to domestic production, it is predicted that Chinese consumers will witness a decline in the availability of both white and yellow chicken in 2024. To bridge the gap between supply and demand, chicken imports are forecasted to grow by 3% in 2024, reaching a total of 770 thousand metric tons.
These developments underscore the complex dynamics at play in China’s poultry industry and highlight the nation’s reliance on imports to maintain a stable supply of chicken meat for its consumers.
