China is a key driver of global protein trade, and its import mix is still reshaping worldwide flows. In 2025, even with a slight dip in animal protein imports, China’s soybean imports rose 7% year over year, largely to support strong animal-feed demand. Over the past 6 years, China’s protein imports show steady demand overall, though pork imports have faced pressure from tariff and trade tensions.
Supply sourcing remains diversified:
- Brazil and Australia lead beef exports
- Spain and Brazil are major pork sources
- Ecuador and India supply significant shrimp volumes
China Pushing for Food Self-Sufficiency
The main change now: China is moving toward greater food self-sufficiency. It is tightening beef safeguard measures and setting 2026 import quotas — Brazil (1.1 million mt), Australia (205,000 mt), and the US (164,000 mt) — while also pushing for greater domestic production of other proteins such as pork and shrimp.
Implications for Global Buyers & Suppliers
Global food traders can expect more quota-driven procurement, potential price volatility in animal proteins, and higher importance of local-processing capacity, contract flexibility, and multi-origin sourcing —especially for beef, and adjacent categories affected by feed and substitution dynamics.
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