China’s October 2025 meat imports, variety meats included, came in at about 490,000 metric tons (mt), slumping 9.9% compared to a month ago, according to preliminary data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).
Inbound tonnage pulled back nearly 55,000 mt, a marked reversal from August’s figures following four straight months of growth.
On an annual basis, imports fell 8.4%. The lingering impact of official alcohol curbs has carried into the second half, with upscale dining and hospitality still struggling to rebound, hindering the pace of inventory drawdown.
In the first ten months of the 2025 calendar year, China imported 5.23 million mt of meat, slipping 3.7% or 202,086 mt compared to the same period last year.
China’s meat imports remained under pressure in Q3 as domestic production expanded and inventories stayed elevated. Ongoing plant license suspensions tied to disease concerns and trade tensions continued to disrupt product flows.
At the crux of the slowdown are weaker economic conditions that have dampened household spending and business activity. Restaurant operators in major cities face slower turnover as consumers tighten discretionary spending, while ongoing trade frictions add further uncertainty to import dynamics.
Preliminary data indicated China’s beef imports were around the 280,000 mt mark, a yearly jump of 18.6%. Detailed figures are expected to be released later this week.
* The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China released a combined figure for the first two months of the year. The chart above shows an average figure representing the monthly data individually.
Image source: Getty
Written by Augusto Eto
