HPAI restrictions cut US chicken paw exports to China
Brazil and Russia fill gap as imports fell to $75.9M in 2025
18 June 2026
1 minute read
By: US exports of raw chicken paws to China have fallen sharply in recent years, with total import value reaching $75.92 million in 2025, according to a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service poultry marketing update on China.
Raw chicken paws account for the majority of US frozen poultry exports to China. Shipments from several US states remain affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) restrictions imposed by the Chinese government, despite a regionalisation protocol agreed in 2020. Stricter testing for drug residues in US poultry products has further reduced available supply.
Brazil and Russia also export significant volumes of chicken paws to China, while Brazil, Thailand and Russia are China's primary chicken meat suppliers overall, with Brazil traditionally accounting for more than half of total imports. Imported chicken meat is used primarily in food processing and foodservice, for ready-to-cook products such as sausages and nuggets.
US chicken paws, particularly jumbo-sized paws, are valued by Chinese traders and foodservice buyers for their size and texture, which the USDA said make them well suited to traditional dishes including dim sum. Foodservice, snack food and ready-to-eat processing channels continue to favour large, high-quality paws, but restricted imports are expected to constrain supply. Domestic white broiler production will increase the availability of locally sourced paws, though the USDA noted their size and quality remain below that of imported products.
