# Slower production growth in China to drive increased animal protein imports in 2018 | Agrifish  | POST Online Media

> Rabobank's Global Animal Protein Outlook 2018 expects China to import more beef, pork and poultry from South America, North America and Europe as slower domestic production growth meets rising demand. Chinese meat imports reached over 1.6 million metric tons in 2016 after a hog herd rebound, and environmental closures have reduced small farms.

- Date: 2017-12-29 · published 2017-12-29T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: trade · region China · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/67466-slower-production-growth-in-china-to-drive-increased-animal-protein-imports-in
- Commodities: [Lean Hogs](https://feedsoft.ai/c/HOGS.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Chicken](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CHICKEN.md), [Soybean Meal](https://feedsoft.ai/c/SBM.md)

## Why it matters

Rising Chinese meat imports support global meat trade and feed demand for exporting countries, while structural constraints on domestic output add to upward pressure on protein prices.

## Read by commodity

- SBM: bullish ▲
- HOGS: bullish ▲
- CHICKEN: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| HOGS | 2026-05-14 | [Trump asks China to increase imports of US farm, food commodities \| S&P Global](https://feedsoft.ai/events/14581-trump-asks-china-to-increase-imports-of-us-farm-food-commodities-s-and-p-global.md) | +4.3% | +2.2% |
| HOGS | 2020-01-15 | [China to purchase $36 bil of US agricultural products in 2020, $43 bil in 2021: governments \| S&P Global](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54943-china-to-purchase-36-bil-of-us-agricultural-products-in-2020-43-bil-in-2021.md) | +1.2% | -10.5% |
| HOGS | 2025-12-01 | [Outbreak of swine fever in Spain spurs China and Mexico to restrict pig and pork imports from that country](https://feedsoft.ai/events/15949-outbreak-of-swine-fever-in-spain-spurs-china-and-mexico-to-restrict-pig-and.md) | +0.6% | +2.6% |
| HOGS | 2019-12-16 | [Pork industry wants to cash in on "phase one" U.S.-China trade deal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/6400-pork-industry-wants-to-cash-in-on-phase-one-u-s-china-trade-deal.md) | +8.8% | +5.7% |
| HOGS | 2020-04-06 | [China lockdown sends ripples across international animal production - EW Nutrition](https://feedsoft.ai/events/53957-china-lockdown-sends-ripples-across-international-animal-production-ew-nutrition.md) | -4.4% | +26.7% |
| LCATTLE | 2019-06-20 | [China builds a bigger post-ASF food import pipeline – including beef - Beef Central](https://feedsoft.ai/events/58590-china-builds-a-bigger-post-asf-food-import-pipeline-including-beef-beef-central.md) | -1.2% | -0.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2018-05-21 | [Trade truce with China could boost US beef, soybeans and other agriculture products](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64915-trade-truce-with-china-could-boost-us-beef-soybeans-and-other-agriculture.md) | -1.8% | -0.1% |
| LCATTLE | 2021-06-21 | [Cow-Calf Corner: beef imports lower in 2021; conditions are ideal for significant fly populations on cattle; feed additives and medicated feeds - Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association](https://feedsoft.ai/events/46526-cow-calf-corner-beef-imports-lower-in-2021-conditions-are-ideal-for-significant.md) | +1.9% | +0.5% |

## Sources

- poandpo.com: https://www.poandpo.com/agrifish/slower-production-growth-in-china-to-drive-increased-animal-protein-imports-in-2018-29122017828/

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.