China's 2026 chicken output forecast raised on strong Q1 growth
Poultry meat production up 9.3% year-on-year
15 July 2026
1 minute read
By: China's chicken production is running ahead of earlier expectations, prompting the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service to raise its 2026 estimate, according to the agency's annual poultry and products report for China.
Official data from China's National Bureau of Statistics show poultry meat production rose 9.3% year on year to 7.01 million metric tons in the first quarter of 2026, with poultry slaughter up 7.5%. The USDA attributed the stronger output to expansion by large integrated companies, commissioning of new capacity and robust export growth.
Higher domestic supply has contributed to softer chicken meat prices in 2026. Weaker pork prices have added further downward pressure on the chicken market, as pork remains the primary competing animal protein in China.
