China Q1 2026 Agricultural Production: Meat Output +4.8% YoY

In the first quarter of 2026, China’s total output of pork, beef, mutton and poultry meat reached 26.62 million tonnes, up 4.8% (1.22 million tonnes) year-on-year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The data, released by chief statistician Wei Fenghua, also showed stable grain sowing intentions and generally ample market supply.

Grain production – Winter wheat growth was comparable to the same period last year. A nationwide planting intention survey indicated that total grain sown area remained stable, with rice and wheat essentially flat and corn slightly increasing. Spring plowing and preparation progressed smoothly, with sufficient agricultural supplies and strong machinery support. Spring planting pace was broadly similar to a year earlier.

Livestock production – Pork output: In Q1, hog slaughter totalled 200.26 million head, up 2.8% (5.51 million head) year-on-year. Pork output reached 16.69 million tonnes, up 4.2% (0.67 million tonnes). As of end-March, hog inventories stood at 423.58 million head, up 1.5% (6.27 million head). Breeding sow inventory was 39.04 million head, down 3.3% (1.35 million head), equivalent to 100.1% of the normal level.

Beef and dairy: Cattle slaughter in Q1 was 11.75 million head, down 3.2% (0.39 million head); beef output was 1.89 million tonnes, down 1.4% (0.03 million tonnes). Milk output totalled 9.22 million tonnes, up 3.4% (0.30 million tonnes).

Sheep and mutton: Sheep slaughter reached 65.00 million head, down 3.8% (2.60 million head); mutton output was 1.03 million tonnes, down 2.0% (0.02 million tonnes). End-March cattle inventories fell 4.0% year-on-year; sheep inventories fell 6.4%.

Poultry: Poultry slaughter totalled 4.46 billion head, up 7.5% (0.31 billion head); poultry meat output was 7.01 million tonnes, up 9.3% (0.60 million tonnes). Egg output was 8.39 million tonnes, down 3.1% (0.27 million tonnes). End-March poultry inventories fell 1.8%.

Market prices – The Q1 agricultural producer price index fell 2.4% year-on-year, driven by declining hog prices. Crop products rose 1.5%, forestry products fell 2.0%, animal and related products fell 7.9%, and fishery products edged up 0.1%. Wheat, rice and corn prices rose for a second consecutive quarter; hog prices fell for a fourth consecutive quarter; live cattle prices rose for four quarters; live sheep prices rose for three quarters. At end-March, most agricultural product prices in rural markets declined month-on-month. Grain prices rose, with corn rising for four months and soybeans for five months. Wheat rose after a slight dip in February. Live cattle prices continued to rise, while hog, live sheep, live chicken and egg prices fell month-on-month. Aquatic products, vegetables and fruit prices declined.

Source: National Bureau of Statistics of China. Original: https://www.stats.gov.cn/sj/sjjd/202604/t20260417_1963346.html