COUNTRY PROFILE 76 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE January 2026 Poultry Sector The poultry sector was the most resilient and fastest-growing segment of Chinese livestock in 2024. According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, total poultry meat production rose by 3.8% to 26.6 million tons. The primary driver of this growth is the emergence of chicken as a more economical and “budget-friendly” protein option compared to pork and beef. The number of broilers slaughtered in 2024 broke a historical record, reaching 13.56 billion head. In particular, white-feathered broilers (up 2.77%) and yellow-feathered broilers (up 3.26%) were driving force behind the market. On the egg production side, the sector has reached a saturation point; while smallscale breeders are being phased out, the number of modern, high-capacity facilities housing millions of birds is increasing rapidly. The poultry sector is one of the segments with the highest integration rate, which directly supports professional feed consumption. Aquaculture China stands as the undisputed global leader in the production, consumption, and trade of aquatic products. The years 2024 and 2025 represent a critical threshold in the sector's transition from traditional methods to a technology-intensive, sustainable, and efficiency-oriented structure. The sector plays a central role not only in terms of food security but also in rural development, technological innovation, and maritime economy strategies. As of 2024, China maintained its title as the world's largest producer of aquatic products, with total production reaching 74.1 million metric tons. This volume represents a 4% increase compared to 2023, and the main driver of growth is aquaculture activities, which account for more than 80% of total production (60.8 million metric tons). The increase in disposable income across the country is shifting consumption habits away from basic protein sources toward high-quality, value-added products. As of 2024, seafood consumption in China is growing faster than meat consumption. According to OECDFAO projections, per capita seafood consumption in China is expected to increase by 14% by 2032. INDUSTRIAL FEED PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION IN CHINA As the world's largest feed producer, China represents a remarkable market in terms of the animal nutrition sector. According to the report titled 2025 Agri-Food Outlook prepared by Alltech, in 2024, when global feed production reached approximately 1.396 billion metric tons, China's feed production declined slightly by 2.03% compared to the previous year, falling to 315.030 million metric tons. Oversupply, low prices, and disease outbreaks caused a decline in the use of swine, beef, dairy, and aquafeeds across the country, resulting in a minor reduction in total compound feed production. Despite this decline, China maintains its global leadership in feed production with a massive volume of 315 million metric tons, surpassing its closest competitor, the United States (approximately 270 million tons). The country controls more than 22.5% Source: Freepik.com I Created by AI
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