China switches to poultry imports from Russia

Russia is now ranked the second-largest poultry exporter to China, though the prospects for continued growth remain questionable as China sees a steady rise in poultry production.

In January-August, Russia exported 80,000 tonnes of poultry to China, which is 15% more than the previous year, the Russian Poultry Union said in a statement on its social media channels. The Chinese market accounted for nearly half of Russia’s poultry export growth this year.

“The eastern export vector remains the key export driver for the Russian poultry industry and largely determines the entire Russian poultry industry’s positive dynamics,” the Poultry Union added.

Against the tide

The growth in Russia’s share of Chinese poultry imports is a significant achievement, given that China saw a 0.8% decline in overall poultry imports this year. Besides, the Poultry Union indicated that China recently reopened its poultry market to suppliers from Argentina and continues to purchase poultry from Brazil.

In addition, China is seeing steady growth in domestic poultry meat production, which is even driving export sales. During the first half of 2025, China saw a 42% jump in the poultry exports to 308,000 tonnes, the Poultry Union reported, citing the official statistical data.

“This means that China is becoming an increasingly serious competitor in the global market, and fighting for its place out there [on the Chinese market] will be challenging,” the Poultry Union emphasised.

Focus on feet

Around 76% of Russian poultry exports to China are chicken feet, a product considered waste in Russia.

“Russian products fit seamlessly into the Chinese market’s consumption patterns and, at the same time, do not put pressure on shelves in Russia,” the Poultry Union noted. “What is considered unpopular in our country is becoming a sought-after delicacy in China.”

Expanding trade

The growth in Russian poultry exports to China is part of the broader trend of expanding agricultural trade between the two countries. During the first 7 months of 2025, Russian agricultural exports to the country climbed by 10% to US$4 billion, Agroexport, the Russian government agency that facilitates food exporters, revealed.

Sales are rising across the board. Among other things, Russian pork exports to China soared by 140%, the agency noted.