China’s meat industry reaches from pig farms to retail shelves, shaping how households and processors plan around supply and demand. In 2023, total meat production was about 91.7 million tonnes, while pigmeat production was around 54.8 million tonnes—nearly half of the world’s output. Trade also plays a balancing role: pork imports were about 4.9 million tonnes. Price indicators, from feed and soybean meal to wholesale and retail pork, help explain why costs and prices don’t always move in sync.
Key Takeaways
- 7.2% year-on-year increase in China’s pork production in 2023 compared with 2022
- China produced about 54.8 million tonnes of pigmeat (pork and other pig meat) in 2023
- China accounted for about 49.0% of global pigmeat production in 2023
- China’s meat production totaled about 91.7 million tonnes in 2023
- China’s pork import quantity was 4.9 million tonnes in 2023
- China’s beef import quantity was about 0.9 million tonnes in 2023
- China’s pork retail price index increased 25.6% year-on-year in April 2024
- China’s pork wholesale price index decreased 6.1% year-on-year in June 2024
- China’s feed price index rose 2.8% year-on-year in 2023 (NBS producer/price series)
- China’s pig farms adopting automated feeding systems reached 48% in a 2021 survey of large-scale farms
- China’s average carcass dressing percentage for pigs reported at about 75%-78% in production studies
- A study reported average lean meat percentage for Chinese pigs around 50%-56%
In 2023 China’s pigmeat surged 7.2% year on year to 54.8 million tonnes, driving global dominance and higher pork prices.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends23 stats
01
7.2% year-on-year increase in China’s pork production in 2023 compared with 2022https://www.fao.org/giews/country-analysis/en/c/1158360/
02
China produced about 54.8 million tonnes of pigmeat (pork and other pig meat) in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
03
China accounted for about 49.0% of global pigmeat production in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
04
China’s total meat production reached about 91.7 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/giews/country-analysis/en/c/1158360/
05
China’s share of global meat production was about 31.0% in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
06
Pork contributed about 59.0% of total meat production in China in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
07
China’s beef production was about 6.5 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
08
China’s mutton and goat meat production was about 4.0 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
09
China’s poultry meat production was about 15.7 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
10
China’s imported pork volumes were about 4.9 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
11
China’s pork import dependency ratio (imports as a share of apparent consumption) was about 15% in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
12
China’s poultry meat imports were about 0.6 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
13
China’s beef imports were about 0.9 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
14
China’s mutton and goat meat imports were about 0.1 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
15
China’s share of integrated pork production (farm-to-slaughter vertically integrated groups) reached about 45% by 2020https://www.fao.org/3/cb4722en/cb4722en.pdf
16
In 2022, China’s largest pork processors operated integrated slaughter volumes of tens of millions of pigs annually (reported in company annual reports; e.g., WH Group/Huishan)https://www.whgroup.com/en/investor-relations/annual-report
17
China’s leading pork enterprises targeted 50-60% automation coverage in pig houses (policy/industry modernization plans reported in academic review)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240589631930065X
18
59.0% of China’s total meat production was pork in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
19
59.4% of China’s total meat production was pork in 2022https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
20
58.6% of China’s total meat production was pork in 2021https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
21
57.8% of China’s total meat production was pork in 2020https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
22
56.9% of China’s total meat production was pork in 2019https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
23
55.8% of China’s total meat production was pork in 2018https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
In 2023, China’s meat industry trend was clear as pork output rose 7.2% year on year and made up about 59.0% of China’s total meat production, while China produced roughly 54.8 million tonnes of pigmeat and accounted for 49.0% of global pigmeat.
report visual · Projection
Pork’s Share of China’s Total Meat Output (2018–2023)
Pork’s share of China’s total meat production rose over 2018–2023, reaching the leader level in 2023 at about 59%, up from about 55.8% in 2018.
55.8 percent
Start
+1.12%
CAGR · 5y
59 percent
Projected
20182023
source-verifiedfao.org2023
02 · Category
Market Size29 stats
01
China’s meat production totaled about 91.7 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/giews/country-analysis/en/c/1158360/
02
China’s pork import quantity was 4.9 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
03
China’s beef import quantity was about 0.9 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
04
China’s poultry meat import quantity was about 0.6 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
05
China’s apparent per-capita meat availability was about 68 kg/person/year in 2023 (all meats)https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
06
China’s apparent per-capita pork availability was about 40 kg/person/year in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
07
China’s apparent per-capita poultry availability was about 14 kg/person/year in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
08
China’s apparent per-capita beef availability was about 5 kg/person/year in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
09
China’s apparent per-capita mutton/goat availability was about 4 kg/person/year in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
10
China’s slaughter volume for pigs exceeded 800 million head in 2022https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
11
China’s poultry slaughter output exceeded 8 billion birds in 2022https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
12
China’s cattle slaughter numbers exceeded 10 million head in 2022https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
13
China’s sheep slaughter numbers exceeded 70 million head in 2022https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
14
China’s livestock sector output value is estimated around USD 440 billion (OECD/FAO estimates)https://www.oecd.org/agriculture/topics/agricultural-outlook/
15
In 2022, China’s pig inventory averaged about 410 million head (FAO/GAEZ based livestock statistics)https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
16
China is responsible for roughly half of the world’s pig population (about 400+ million head)https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
17
China’s pork production constituted about 28.2% of global meat production in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
18
China’s total meat exports were about 0.3 million tonnes (all meats) in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
19
China’s total meat imports were about 8.2 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
20
China’s meat self-sufficiency rate is above 90% in recent years (FAO availability vs production balance)https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
21
China’s export market for meat remains small: total meat exports were about 0.3 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
22
China’s total meat import quantity was about 8.2 million tonnes in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
23
China’s beef import value was about USD 5.5 billion in 2023 (trade value compiled in FAOSTAT trade dataset)https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
24
China’s pork import value was about USD 10.0 billion in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
25
China’s poultry meat import value was about USD 1.6 billion in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
26
China’s mutton and goat meat import value was about USD 0.3 billion in 2023https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
27
China’s meat imports in 2023 represented about 8% of total meat consumption (imports as share of apparent consumption)https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
28
China’s pig feed demand drives grain and protein demand; compound feed output reached 250 million tonnes in 2022 (FAO/OECD references)https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
29
China’s compound feed output exceeded 250 million tonnes in 2022https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
In 2023, China’s meat market was massive at 91.7 million tonnes of production and 68 kg per person per year in apparent meat availability, showing strong overall demand that was only partly supplemented by imports of 4.9 million tonnes of pork.
More related reading
03 · Category
Cost Analysis18 stats
01
China’s pork retail price index increased 25.6% year-on-year in April 2024https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01&zb=A0204
02
China’s pork wholesale price index decreased 6.1% year-on-year in June 2024https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01&zb=A0204
03
China’s feed price index rose 2.8% year-on-year in 2023 (NBS producer/price series)https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01&zb=A0204
04
China’s soybean meal price index increased by 12.4% year-on-year in 2023https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01&zb=A0204
05
China’s corn price index increased by 3.7% year-on-year in 2023https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01&zb=A0204
06
China’s natural gas price for industrial users averaged about RMB 3.0/m³ in 2023 (NBS price series)https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01&zb=A0403
07
China’s industrial water price averaged about RMB 2.5/m³ in 2023 (NBS price series)https://data.stats.gov.cn/english/easyquery.htm?cn=C01&zb=A0403
08
A study reported average feed conversion ratio (FCR) for finishing pigs around 3.0-3.2 kg feed per kg gainhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141315000621
09
A Chinese swine farm survey found average mortality rates of 5%–8% during grow-finish (impacting unit costs)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587719305152
10
A pharmacoeconomic analysis of swine disease control estimated antimicrobial and prevention costs reduced by about 15%-25% per pig when vaccination programs were usedhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587717303453
11
China’s biosecurity investment (pens and ventilation) reduced outbreak-related losses by about 30% in case reports from large farmshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167587718321171
12
For African swine fever control, the cost-benefit model showed culling and biosecurity spending yielded net savings of CNY 100-200 per pig in affected regionshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969720321887
13
A study estimated that manure treatment costs were about 0.3-0.5 RMB per kg live weight produced for large-scale pig farmshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718300148
14
Wastewater treatment compliance costs for pig farms in China were estimated around RMB 10-20 per head per year in a policy/engineering assessmenthttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352550917300189
15
Packaged chilled pork logistics cost per kg was reported around 0.8-1.5 RMB/kg in a Chinese cold-chain logistics studyhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240589631930065X
16
Refrigerated transport losses in cold-chain for meat were reported at around 1%-3% of weight in literature on China logisticshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212567117311880
17
China’s slaughterhouse operating costs include energy; energy typically accounts for 5%-10% of slaughter processing cost in industrial cost breakdowns (reviewed in food processing economics literature)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919217306120
18
In 2022, China had 2.8 million km of roads used for logistics; meat cold-chain uses a portion (infrastructure context) reported by World Bank transport indicatorshttps://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IS.ROD.PAVE.ZS
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, China’s meat supply chain costs look mixed as pork retail prices jumped 25.6% year on year in April 2024 while pork wholesale prices fell 6.1% year on year in June 2024, alongside higher input prices in 2023 with soybean meal up 12.4% and corn up 3.7% year on year.
04 · Category
Performance Metrics16 stats
01
China’s pig farms adopting automated feeding systems reached 48% in a 2021 survey of large-scale farmshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652621007095
02
China’s average carcass dressing percentage for pigs reported at about 75%-78% in production studieshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141314001054
03
A study reported average lean meat percentage for Chinese pigs around 50%-56%https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141314000733
04
Average hot carcass weight for pigs in China studies was around 70-80 kghttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141315000357
05
A dataset study found Chinese broiler feed conversion ratio improved to about 1.6-1.7 by 2020https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919219311873
06
China’s poultry production efficiency (broiler livability) commonly reported at about 95%-96%https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S187114131400108X
07
China’s slaughterhouse yields: pig standard carcass yield reported around 73%-77% across studieshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919217305217
08
A chilling optimization study reported reducing microbial growth rate by 30%-50% by lowering carcass surface temperature from 10°C to 0-2°Chttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919215004023
09
A study on Chinese meat processing reported 2-Log reduction in E. coli achieved by combined sanitation and thermal stepshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963998919300851
10
A Chinese HACCP implementation case study reported 15%-20% reduction in defect rates in meat processing lines after HACCP adoptionhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306919219302780
11
In cold-chain meat supply studies in China, temperature-abuse events were reduced from 12% of shipments to 5% after remote monitoring adoptionhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212567118301420
12
Remote cold-chain monitoring adoption in China’s fresh food logistics reached about 25% among surveyed logistics firms (2020-2021 surveys)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212567119311928
13
China’s meat processing loss rate was reported around 2%-4% during distribution in cold-chain analysis literaturehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212567117301058
14
In a study, using high-pressure processing (HPP) reduced total viable count in pork by 1-2 log CFU/ghttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002019312923
15
China’s average retail cold storage temperature compliance in audits was reported at 85%-90% in surveyed cities (academic audit studies)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924838820301605
16
China’s meat processors with HACCP-certified plants represented about 60% of large enterprises in an industry survey (2019)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877042819300403
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Overall performance in China’s meat sector is improving, with automation uptake for pig farms rising to 48% by 2021 and broiler feed conversion improving to about 1.6 to 1.7 by 2020 while poultry livability stays high at roughly 95% to 96%.
Reference
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Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). China Meat Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-meat-industry-statistics
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Lars Eriksen. "China Meat Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/china-meat-industry-statistics.
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Lars Eriksen. 2026. "China Meat Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-meat-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report
+28 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)