Jinan Zhuocheng Bio-Tech Co., Ltd.

In 2025, the European Union’s pork exports to China (including pig offal, of which over 70% was offal) fell to just 367,416 tons, a sharp drop of 21% year-on-year. Export value plunged 23% to USD 857.5 million. These figures, released by the Import and Export Food Safety Information Platform of Foodmate Partners (March 2, 2026), have caused anxiety in the European pig industry and sounded an alarm for the global livestock supply chain.

This export collapse was no accident. According to Announcement No. 80 (2025) of China’s Ministry of Commerce, since December 17, 2025, China has imposed anti-dumping duties of 4.9% to 19.8% on imported pork and pig by-products originating from the EU, for a period of five years. Previously, the EU had relied on agricultural subsidies to capture the Chinese market with low prices, with its share of China’s pork imports once reaching 55%, severely impacting China’s domestic pig industry. After the anti-dumping duties took effect, the price competitiveness of EU pork was directly undermined.

At the same time, China’s domestic pig production capacity has continued to recover. In 2025, China’s hog slaughtering volume reached 719.73 million head, with pork output of 59.38 million tons, up 4.1% year-on-year. In addition, as residents’ dietary structures upgrade, demand for by-products such as offal has declined. Since offal accounts for over 70% of EU pork exports to China, weaker demand has directly reduced overall export volumes.

As EU exports to China falter, Russia, the United States, Brazil, and other countries have quickly seized market share due to cost advantages. Russia’s pork export value to China surged 60% year-on-year in 2025, becoming a top ten pork supplier to China in just over a year. The pig production costs in the United States and Brazil are 15%–20% lower than in the EU, further diverting the EU's export share.

The EU itself is also mired in difficulties. Pig prices remained low throughout 2025, ending the year at just €1.35/kg, and further fell to €1.21/kg at the start of 2026. An outbreak of African swine fever in Spain led to the suspension of numerous export permits, forcing 530,000 tons of pork back into the domestic market and exacerbating internal oversupply.

This export crisis sends clear warning signals for veterinary drug trading companies. First, pay attention to policy risks in target markets. Trade policies such as anti-dumping measures and tariffs can instantly reshape market dynamics; over-reliance on any single export market carries significant hidden dangers. Second, follow the rhythm of global supply chain restructuring. The strong growth of pork exports to China from Russia, Brazil, and others indicates that these countries are expanding their pig industries — and thus their demand for veterinary drugs and vaccines — meriting early strategic positioning. Third, be alert to downstream volatility. The EU pig industry is facing losses and pressure to exit; veterinary drug procurement demand will inevitably contract. Exporters need to adjust their customer structure in a timely manner to diversify risk.

The sharp drop in EU pork exports to China is not the end. With the sustained impact of the anti-dumping duties, export volumes are expected to decline further in 2026. For veterinary drug trading companies, this crisis is a clear signal: the global livestock industry pattern is accelerating its restructuring, and only by keeping pace with the shift in the supply chain can one seize the initiative in a changing landscape.