Brazil has taken another step towards expanding its presence in the Chinese pork market, as negotiations progress on a sanitary protocol for pork offal exports.
During a meeting in Beijing in May, Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, André de Paula, and Sun Meijun, Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), discussed the revised protocol covering pork offal trade between the 2 countries. According to Brazilian government sources, the authorities confirmed the technical terms of the protocol. The agreement is expected to be formally signed at a later date.
The Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, André de Paula. Photos: Mapa
Once signed, Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) will be able to guide exporting companies on the operational and sanitary requirements needed to qualify shipments. China’s customs authority will then start the internal procedures required to open trade flows. “This is a positive outcome of the technical dialogue and cooperation developed between our institutions over recent years,” De Paula said after the meeting.
According to the minister, the inclusion of pork offal in the protocol represents an important sanitary and commercial achievement for both countries. It also demonstrates the high level of trust between Brazil and China, he added. The parties also confirmed the launch of electronic certification for meat products from next month. The measure is expected to streamline procedures and reduce bureaucracy in bilateral trade.
André de Paula and Sun Meijun, ministers of Brazil and China.
Strategic partner
The negotiations come amid increasingly close ties between Brazil and China. During the meeting, Sun Meijun stressed the importance of bilateral agri-food trade. She said China imported US$51.4 billion worth of Brazilian agricultural products in 2025, accounting for around half of all trade between the 2 countries. “Despite China’s strong agricultural industry, the country has a market with enormous potential and remains open to imports of high-quality foreign products,” she said.
Sun also referred to protocols signed during recent visits by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to China. These included agreements on poultry meat, peanut meal, corn ethanol by-products, family farming and agricultural mechanisation.
For Brazil’s pig sector, market access for offal could be particularly significant. Products such as feet, ears, snouts, tails and internal organs are in strong demand in Asian markets. They can also help increase carcass value by improving the economic use of slaughtered animals.
Exports continue to rise
The progress in negotiations comes at a favourable moment for Brazil’s pork export industry. Data from the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA) show that exports reached 532,200 tonnes in the first four months of 2026. That is 14.2% more than the 466,000 tonnes shipped in the same period last year. Export revenues also increased, rising from US$1.09 billion to US$1.24 billion.
Brazilian and Chinese delegations in Beijing.
In April, the Philippines remained the leading destination for Brazilian pork, importing 35,900 tonnes. That was 20.6% more than a year earlier. Japan ranked second with 16,600 tonnes, representing year-on-year growth of 131.9%. China imported 11,800 tonnes during the month, down 21.6% compared with April last year. Chile, Vietnam, Uruguay and Hong Kong were also among the main buyers.
“The international performance of Brazilian pork remains very positive in 2026, especially in Asian markets, which continue to expand their demand for animal protein,” said ABPA president Ricardo Santin. According to him, growth in higher-value markets such as Japan reinforces positive expectations for the sector for the rest of the year.
Pressure on farm prices
Despite the strong export performance, conditions on farms have been less favourable. According to Cepea/Esalq data, the average pork carcass price has fallen from BRL 15.10 (€2.36) per kilogram in November 2024 to around BRL 8.70 (€1.36) per kilogram currently. That represents a decline of 42.4%. Marcelo Lopes, president of the Brazilian Association of Pig Breeders (ABCS), said oversupply has put pressure on prices in several regions of the country. “It is a difficult time for producers due to the fall in prices, which in some states are even below production costs, largely because of excess supply,” he said.
Nevertheless, Lopes expects market conditions to improve gradually in the second half of the year, supported by domestic consumption and continued export growth. In his view, broader access to strategic markets such as China could help reduce pressure on domestic supply and strengthen profitability across Brazil’s pork production chain.
Daniel Azevedo
Source: foodagribusiness
