China's Beef Import Volume Reaches Record High in Q1 2026

China's beef imports reached 785,000 metric tons in Q1 2026, a 12% increase compared to the same period last year, according to data from China Customs. This record-high import volume reflects the continued growth in domestic beef consumption and structural changes in China's meat supply.

The top supplying countries to China were Brazil (32%), Argentina (21%), Australia (15%), and Uruguay (10%). Notably, imports of premium and high-value cuts, including Wagyu and grain-fed Angus, grew at an even faster rate of 18% year-over-year, indicating rising consumer preference for quality over price.

Several factors are driving this growth: increasing urbanization, rising middle-class incomes, the expansion of Western-style dining and steakhouses in tier-1 and tier-2 cities, and a shift from pork to beef consumption following African Swine Fever's lasting impact on pork supply.

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