US chicken exports to China drop to US$75.9M
Brazil, Russia, and Thailand expand market share as US shipments decline.
USA – US chicken paw exports to China have fallen sharply, with total trade value dropping to about US$75.9 million in 2025, reflecting ongoing disruptions caused by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) restrictions and stricter import controls.
China remains a major destination for chicken paws, which are considered a high-value food item and are widely consumed in traditional dishes, including dim sum and braised preparations across the country’s foodservice sector.
However, access for US exporters remains limited as Chinese authorities continue to restrict imports from states affected by avian influenza, despite earlier regionalisation agreements intended to allow trade from disease-free zones.
Additional testing requirements for veterinary drug residues have further slowed shipments, increasing compliance costs and reducing the volume of eligible exports.
Competing exporters gain ground in China
As US exports decline, Brazil has strengthened its position as China’s dominant poultry supplier, accounting for more than half of total imported chicken meat.
Russia and Thailand have also expanded their presence in the Chinese market, filling supply gaps left by reduced US participation.
The shift reflects how quickly global poultry trade flows adjust when major exporters face animal health-related barriers, with importers increasingly diversifying sourcing to maintain stable supply for processing and foodservice industries.
South Africa competitiveness shift adds pressure to global poultry trade
The changes in China’s import structure come alongside broader shifts in global poultry competitiveness, including recent findings that South Africa has overtaken the United States to become the second most competitive poultry producer after Brazil, according to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service-linked competitiveness assessment cited by the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy.
The report found that South African production costs are lower than those in the United States and significantly below European benchmarks, driven in part by strong feed conversion efficiency.
South African broilers achieve an average production cycle of 31.5 days, although with lighter carcass weights of about 1.77 kilograms compared with 2.95 kilograms in the United States.
Brazil remains the largest global benchmark in the study, with higher carcass weights ranging between 1.9 kilograms and 2.5 kilograms, reinforcing its cost advantage in international poultry trade.
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