Chinese imports of pork meat and offal reached 1,44 million tonnes between January and September 2026, a decrease of 15,3 % compared with the same period in 2025, when they stood at 1,70 million tonnes, according to the data analyzed.
This decline is mainly explained by the decline in pork purchases, from 780 000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2025 to 570 000 tonnes in 2026, a drop of 26,9 %. For their part, pork offal imports have been more stable, although they have also declined. Between January and September 2026, they stood at 870 000 tonnes, compared with 920 000 tonnes over the same period of the previous year, a decrease of 5,4 %.
Compared with the period from January to September 2020, during which imports of pork and pork offal had reached 4,32 million tonnes, the volume imported since the beginning of 2026 is lower by 66,7 %. The decline was particularly marked for meat, whose imports fell by 82,6 % compared with 2020, while those of offal decreased by 16,3%.
Evolution of Chinese imports of pork meat and offal, in tonnes, from January to September of each year. Source: 3tres3, based on data from the General Administration of Customs of China.
Transformation of Chinese demand for pork products
The trend in recent years highlights a transformation in Chinese import demand, with a growing share of offal in imported volumes. Since the beginning of the year, offal has accounted for 60,4 % of the total import volume, compared with 54,1 % over the same period of 2025.
This trend is even more significant when compared with 2020.In the first nine months of 2020, meat accounted for approximately 75,8% of China's total import volume, compared with 24,2% for offal. Six years later, the situation had reversed : between January and September 2026, meat accounted for only 39,6% of imports, compared with 60,4% for offal. Thus, meat's share of China's imports of pork products has decreased by 36,2 percentage points since 2020.
22 October 2026 / Editorial staff 3tres3, based on data from China's General Administration of Customs.