Beef consumption in China has risen steadily over the last few years. According to a new report, rising incomes, dietary shift and urbanization are driving the Chinese appetite for beef. With local production unable to grow fast enough to meet increasing demand, the Chinese market provides a great opportunity for exporters from the key beef producing countries. These include exporters in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Uruguay, India and potentially the United States, if it’s suspension from the Chinese market in the aftermath of the 2004 BSE outbreak is lifted…Full-text article: BlackSeaGrain Aug 2013

Key points

• According to the article, beef only accounts for 8% of per capita meat consumption, with approximately 60% of consumption taking place outside the home
• Chinese beef production has remained flat since 2006 owing to the poor economic returns on such a high investment product

ChinaAg Comment

• Brazil has been to the top supplier of beef to the China, but the U.S. has emerged as a solid secondary supplier. However, nearly all imports of U.S. beef enter through Hong Kong or Macao due to a import ban by mainland China. Other noteworthy Chinese beef suppliers include Australia, New Zealand, Uruguay, Argentina, and Canada.