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Livestock production in China performed strongly during the first quarter of 2026, with the swine industry playing a particularly prominent role. According to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics of China, total meat production reached 26.62 million tons, a 4.8% increase from the same period last year.
In this context, pork production grew by 4.2%, cementing its position as the main driver of the country’s meat production. This increase occurred alongside growth in poultry production (+9.3%), while beef and sheep meat production declined by 1.4% and 2.0%, respectively.
The strength of the swine industry is also reflected in the number of animals slaughtered. During the first quarter, 200.26 million pigs were slaughtered, representing a 2.8% increase year-over-year. As for the livestock inventory, at the end of the first quarter, the number of pigs in stock reached 423.58 million head, 1.5% more than in the same period of the previous year.
April 16, 2026/ NBS/ China.
https://www.stats.gov.cn/
