Arabfields, Farah Benali, Economic Correspondent, China — China is emerging as a major force in global poultry markets, with rising production and government support helping its meat processors expand overseas and intensifying competition for established exporters in Brazil, Thailand and Europe.

Chinese chicken exports reached $2.6 billion in 2025, nearly double their value in 2020, as producers increasingly directed surplus output towards international buyers. The expansion reflects a broader shift in China’s agricultural industry, where large-scale production and competitive pricing are reshaping trade in food commodities.

Data from the US Department of Agriculture show that China’s chicken exports climbed to 1.085 million tonnes in 2025, compared with imports of 297,000 tonnes. Five years earlier, the country imported 999,000 tonnes while exporting just 388,000 tonnes, highlighting how quickly its position in the global market has changed.

The USDA forecasts that Chinese chicken exports will reach 1.4 million tonnes in 2026, approximately 3.6 times their 2020 level. If achieved, the increase would strengthen China’s position among the world’s leading poultry suppliers and intensify competition for exporters that have traditionally dominated international markets.

For buyers in Africa and other price-sensitive regions, cheaper Chinese poultry offers an alternative to established suppliers. Portuguese meat trader Branexx began purchasing Chinese chicken in March after African customers sought products priced below Brazilian alternatives. The development illustrates how purchasing decisions are increasingly influenced by affordability as importers seek to manage costs.

Chinese chicken breast and leg-quarter products are reportedly 10% to 20% cheaper than comparable Brazilian cuts. Average Chinese export prices stood at $1.55 per kilogram last year, against $1.79 for Brazilian poultry, according to figures cited by the Brazilian Center for Advanced Studies on Applied Economics.

Brazil remains the world’s largest chicken exporter, shipping 5.32 million tonnes in 2025. Its export volume is more than four times China’s, but the price difference presents a challenge for processors competing for contracts where cost is a decisive factor.

China’s expansion has been supported by investment in large-scale farms and public subsidies. An analysis by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that government support accounted for approximately 13% of Chinese agricultural producers’ total revenue between 2022 and 2024, nearly three times the share recorded in the early 2000s.

The poultry industry’s growth also reflects changes in domestic consumption. Following an outbreak of African swine fever in 2018, some Chinese consumers shifted from pork towards chicken and duck. However, as pig herds recovered, growth in poultry demand slowed, leaving producers with additional output to sell abroad.

According to USDA figures, Chinese chicken production increased by 13% between 2020 and 2025, reaching 16.5 million tonnes. Domestic consumption rose by only 3% over the same period, to 15.71 million tonnes. The difference has increased the incentive for processors to seek new overseas markets.

For companies such as Yountop Food, exports have become an important source of revenue. The Shandong-based processor handles around 60 million chickens annually and sells products, including chicken breast and nuggets, to more than 20 countries. Its experience reflects a broader effort by Chinese producers to combine large-scale operations with competitive export pricing.

China is also expanding beyond finished meat products into poultry genetics. In June 2026, Chinese breeder Sengnong Development shipped 20,000 birds of its Shengze 901 breed to Uzbekistan. The shipment could support the development of a much larger local broiler industry, according to the Fujian provincial government.

The expansion is prompting responses from competing markets. The European Union is preparing to strengthen country-of-origin labelling requirements for poultry products from 2027, while European authorities are monitoring imports amid concerns about competition and government support. In July, the European Commission launched an anti-dumping investigation into imports of white-feathered ducks from China, although chicken had not been targeted by a comparable investigation at the time of the report.

For consumers, cheaper imports could help ease food costs. For domestic farmers and processors, however, sustained price competition could squeeze profit margins and increase pressure to improve efficiency, invest in technology and develop higher-value products.

Looking ahead, China’s projected increase in chicken exports to 1.4 million tonnes in 2026 could intensify competition across international markets, particularly if domestic demand remains subdued and production continues to expand. The forecast is not guaranteed, as trade restrictions, changes in consumption and shifts in production costs could affect actual shipments.

Brazil’s established export network and larger production base will remain important advantages, but Chinese suppliers are increasingly competing on price and scale. The outcome will depend on how quickly rival producers adapt and whether importing countries prioritise lower costs, domestic industry protection or a balance between the two.

China’s rise in poultry exports illustrates how agricultural subsidies, changing consumption patterns and industrial-scale production can alter global food trade. As competition spreads into new markets, the effects are likely to be felt by exporters, retailers, farmers and consumers alike.