Written by Rafael Jimenez, Business Development Advisor, EU SME Centre
Preliminary data for 2016 shows that China’s meat imports from the EU have been growing at a phenomenal rate particularly for the meat category. By the end of September 2016, the total value of meat imports from the EU already surpassed USD 2.8 billion, projected to reach USD 3.7 billion for the whole calendar year of 2016.
Last year, China’s total meat imports value from the EU was USD 2 billion. If this trend continues for the remaining months of 2016, the year-on-year growth rate would be expected to reach over 85%. When compared with other popular meat export countries, the EU accounts for a bit more than one-third of China’s total meat imports so far this year, with Brazil and the USA accounting for another third. Australia has lost steam so far this year with a 7% share of meat imports, experiencing a decline in quantity and value. Brazil is now the biggest supplier of meat to China with an astounding growing rate, as the restrictions imposed in previous years have been lifted recently.
Within the EU, countries such as Germany, Spain and Denmark made meat exports to China grow at maximum speed, with a growth so far in 2016 of 102%, 119%, and 105%. An extraordinary performance was made by the Netherlands, a country with a superb growth in its exports of meat to China of about 200% so far in 2016, though coming from a lower base.
Outlook for pork in the short term remains strong, a mild slowdown foresaw in mid-term, though overall we remain positive about pork imports to China. Some member states have been continuing to negotiate with China on bilateral protocols to export meat products. If those bilateral protocols could be reached and enacted, it will further boost China’s meat imports from the EU. (Data Source: E-to-China.com)
Looking for more information? Find them in our guideline Exporting Meat Products to China.
