Key facts
- China's protein exports are surging due to overcapacity and subsidies.
- Chinese chicken is priced $1,000 per ton cheaper than competitors.
- EU launched anti-dumping probe into Peking duck imports.
- EU imposed anti-dumping duties on Chinese pea protein.
- China's chicken exports reached $2.6 billion last year.
- Per-capita pork consumption in China has fallen 13% since 2023.
China's protein producers are increasingly exporting chicken and pork, leveraging expanded capacity and subsidies to compete globally. Companies like Wintop Food are offering products at significantly lower prices than competitors in Brazil and Thailand, leading to a surge in Chinese exports. This trend is drawing scrutiny from Western regulators, echoing China's strategy in other sectors like steel and electric vehicles.
While domestic demand for pork has weakened due to changing dietary preferences and health consciousness, production has continued to expand, fueled by government subsidies aimed at boosting food security. This has resulted in overcapacity, pushing large producers to seek international markets.
European authorities have already launched anti-dumping probes into Chinese duck and pea protein imports, and are monitoring the chicken market. China's growing role as a protein exporter is disrupting global markets and challenging established players in Europe, Thailand, and Brazil.