With China’s President Xi agreeing the country would purchase more US chicken in coming months, it’s important to look at the current state of the Chinese market. The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service just happened to publish a periodic report on their market Thursday.
China’s poultry and products import market contracted significantly in 2025, with total imports falling to $2.1 billion, because of increased domestic supply, HPAI-related import restrictions and ongoing trade tensions, the FAS said in the Global Agricultural Information Network report.
Since the last report, the US remained China’s fourth-largest poultry supplier, dominated by chicken paws, the GAIN report said. A popular food, chicken paws remain a staple in traditional Cantonese cuisines and ready-to-eat snacks, presenting continued opportunities for US exporters.
A MARKET OVERVIEW
As one of the world’s major poultry importers, China imported more than $2.1 billion worth of poultry and products in 2025, a 32.7% decline from the prior year, the FAS report said. Rising domestic production, HPAI-related import restrictions, and trade tensions are the main reasons for lower imports.
The top four supplying countries of Brazil, Russia, Thailand and the US, account for 93% of China’s poultry imports, the GAIN report said. As one of the world’s largest poultry producers, China’s import demand is primarily concentrated in specific cuts, namely chicken paws and wings.
The US remained the fourth largest supplier of poultry and products to China, with total exports at $329.45 million, down 21.5% year-on-year, the FAS said. Among those exports, frozen poultry cuts and chicken paws were at $75.92 million in 2025, down 69.8% year-over-year.
In contrast, heat-treated paws from the US were gaining more share in China, valued at $252.8 million in 2025, an increase of more than 50% year-over-year, the report said.
CONSUMPTION TRENDS
As a relatively low-cost animal protein, households and the foodservice sector substitute chicken for higher-priced meats, the FAS said. Younger consumers and fitness-oriented groups are increasingly seeking high-protein, low-fat options, which has driven demand for chicken breast meat from white broilers in fast food restaurants and retail food segments.
Another main consumption channel for poultry products is institutional food services, including cafeterias at schools, workplaces and hospitals, the GAIN report said. This channel is highly price-sensitive and accounts for a significant share of overall poultry consumption.
Yellow broilers, in contrast, are concentrated in premium dining settings, because of their higher price point, with almost the entire supply being domestically sourced, the report said. The yellow-feather chicken sector is dominated by a relatively small group of vertically integrated poultry companies, including the market leader Wens Foodstuff Co., which is headquartered in Guangdong province.
Southern China consumers show a strong preference for yellow broilers over other poultry types, largely because of a longstanding culinary traditions and perceptions of quality, the USDA said.
Chicken paws are popular in Cantonese cuisine, especially in classic dishes like dim sum, the report said. Chefs in South China usually prepare the chicken paws through braising, steaming or deep-frying, and with sauces and spices. US chicken paws, especially the jumbo paws, enjoy good market recognition in the HRI sector.
Demand for ready-to-eat snacks, mainly with chicken paws, also is on the rise, the FAS said. Thus, opportunities remain for US chicken paws in China’s food processing sector.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $258.00 per cwt to $264.00, compared with last week’s range of $251.82 to $260.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $404.17 per cwt to $414.25, compared with $400.43 to $409.84.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was down $2.14 per cwt at $391.48 while select was down $5.48 at $385.65. The choice/select spread widened to $5.83, from $2.49 with 87 loads of fabricated product and 22 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $451.86 per cwt, and 50% beef was $190.37.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.12 to $1.20 a bushel over the Jul corn contract, which settled at $4.62 1/4 a bushel, down $0.03 1/2.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Wednesday was $370.72 per cwt, down $1.72. This compares with Thursday’s May contract settlement of $369.12, down $1.60, and Aug’s $356.52, down $9.25.