Brazil’s pork industry is preparing for new export opportunities after China agreed to expand market access for a wider range of Brazilian pork offal and edible by-products.
The agreement, formalized through a revised bilateral sanitary protocol signed on September 26, 2026, represents an important development in trade relations between two major participants in the global pork market.
According to the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), the expanded access could create opportunities for more than 100,000 metric tons of pork offal annually, potentially generating over US$100 million in additional revenue for the Brazilian sector.
Beyond the immediate commercial implications, the agreement highlights the growing importance of carcass valorization, market diversification and sanitary compliance in the competitiveness of international pork production.
KEY DEVELOPMENT
China has expanded its sanitary protocol with Brazil to include additional edible pork offal and by-products. ABPA estimates that the agreement could support more than 100,000 metric tons in annual export opportunities and generate over US$100 million in additional revenue. These are projected opportunities, not confirmed new export volumes.
A new chapter in Brazil–China pork trade
Brazil and China have maintained a significant commercial relationship in pork for more than a decade.
China has become an important destination for Brazilian pork exports, while Brazil has progressively strengthened its international position as a supplier of animal protein.
According to ABPA, Brazil exported approximately 2.7 million metric tons of pork to China between 2013 and 2024.
Despite this established relationship, access to the Chinese market for certain pork offal products remained restricted.
Before the latest agreement, Brazilian exports of specific external pork by-products, including feet, ears and tails, were permitted under limited conditions, particularly from the state of Santa Catarina.
However, internal organs and several other edible by-products were not covered by the same market access arrangements.
The revised protocol broadens the range of products that may enter China, potentially allowing Brazilian processors to reach a market where demand for these products is particularly strong.
Which pork products are included in the expanded access?
The new agreement extends market access beyond the previously permitted categories of external pork offal.
According to industry reporting, the expanded list includes several internal organs and additional edible by-products.
PRODUCT CATEGORIES COVERED BY THE EXPANSION
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Internal organs | Liver, heart, kidneys and stomach |
| Other internal tissues | Diaphragm and other eligible edible tissues |
| Additional by-products | Skin, cartilage, bones, lard and other eligible frozen edible products |
Specific products remain subject to the sanitary protocol and the applicable approval and certification requirements.
The broader product list is commercially important because the value of pork products can vary considerably between export destinations.
Products that are less frequently consumed in one market may be highly valued in another, creating opportunities to improve the economic return from each processed animal.
More than 100,000 metric tons in potential annual exports
ABPA estimates that the expanded protocol could support the export of more than 100,000 metric tons of pork offal annually.
The association identified particularly significant opportunities in two of Brazil’s leading pork-producing states: Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
ESTIMATED ANNUAL EXPORT POTENTIAL
| Brazilian state | Estimated opportunity |
|---|---|
| Santa Catarina | 65,900 metric tons of internal pork offal |
| Rio Grande do Sul | More than 40,000 metric tons of pork offal |
Source: ABPA, September 26, 2026. Figures represent estimated market potential, not contracted or completed shipments.
Combined, these estimates exceed 100,000 metric tons per year.
ABPA believes that redirecting eligible products toward a market with stronger demand could generate more than US$100 million in additional annual revenue.
The association emphasizes that these products already have commercial uses and established destinations. The opportunity is therefore not necessarily to create demand for previously unused material, but to improve the value obtained from existing production.
WHY THE REVENUE ESTIMATE MATTERS
The projected US$100 million represents potential additional value for the sector. Actual gains will depend on approved processing facilities, export volumes, negotiated prices, logistics and the extent to which sales to China replace or complement existing markets.
China already imports Brazilian pork offal
The new agreement should not be interpreted as the first opening of the Chinese market to Brazilian pork offal.
Historical trade data confirm that Brazil was already exporting eligible products to China before the protocol was expanded.
According to data available through the World Bank’s World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), Brazil exported approximately 119,843 metric tons of frozen edible swine offal, excluding livers, worldwide in 2025, with a reported trade value of US$155.8 million.
Of that total, approximately 21,518 metric tons, valued at US$62.8 million, were exported to China.
BRAZILIAN FROZEN EDIBLE SWINE OFFAL EXPORTS, 2025
| Destination | Volume | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | 119,843 metric tons | US$155.8 million |
| China | 21,518 metric tons | US$62.8 million |
Source: World Bank WITS/UN Comtrade, HS 020649, 2025. This classification excludes livers and does not cover every product category included in the revised sanitary protocol.
These figures provide context for the existing trade relationship, but they are not directly comparable with ABPA’s projection for the newly authorized products.
The historical trade classification and the expanded protocol cover different product groups.
Nevertheless, the data demonstrate that China was already an established destination for Brazilian edible pork by-products before the latest market expansion.
Improving carcass utilization and export value
One of the most important implications of the agreement is the opportunity to improve the economic utilization of pork carcasses.
Pork processing generates a range of products beyond the conventional cuts most commonly sold in domestic retail markets.
Internal organs, skin, cartilage, feet and other edible by-products can represent important sources of revenue when suitable commercial outlets are available.
However, their market value depends on consumer preferences, processing requirements, food safety standards and access to importing countries.
In China, several pork offal products are commonly incorporated into traditional food preparations and have established commercial demand.
This creates a degree of complementarity between Brazilian production and Chinese consumption patterns.
Expanding access to higher-value markets for edible by-products can improve the economic return from each processed pig without necessarily requiring an equivalent increase in pork production.
For Brazilian processors, stronger market access may provide additional flexibility in directing different carcass components toward destinations where they command greater value.
Improved utilization can also support more efficient use of resources already invested in animal production, including feed, water, energy and processing infrastructure.
However, the environmental benefits of any change in export destinations would require separate assessment, particularly when transport, refrigeration and processing requirements are considered.
Sanitary recognition supports Brazil’s export ambitions
The agreement also reflects the importance of animal health status and veterinary certification in international meat trade.
Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) led the negotiations with Chinese authorities, building on technical discussions conducted over several years.
The process advanced during an official Brazilian mission to Beijing in May 2026, when authorities discussed the revised requirements for pork and related products.
According to ABPA, the agreement follows an important development in Brazil’s animal health status.
In May 2025, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recognized Brazil’s entire territory as free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.
This recognition strengthened the country’s international sanitary credentials and may facilitate negotiations for access to markets with demanding animal health requirements.
Nevertheless, recognition of national disease status does not automatically authorize every establishment or product for export.
Individual processing plants and product categories must still meet the requirements established by importing authorities.
Processing plants must meet market access requirements
Although the sanitary protocol expands the range of eligible products, commercial shipments depend on the completion of the applicable approval procedures.
Industry reporting indicates that approximately 15 Brazilian pork-processing facilities already authorized to export pork to China may seek expanded approval for the newly covered products.
These include facilities in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.
Each establishment must obtain the necessary authorization for the additional product categories.
For processors, compliance may involve documentation, sanitary controls, product identification, traceability and certification according to the applicable requirements.
This distinction is important: a bilateral market-opening agreement creates a commercial pathway, but it does not guarantee that all eligible facilities can immediately begin exporting every newly authorized product.
MARKET ACCESS VS. ACTUAL EXPORTS
The agreement broadens the range of products that may qualify for entry into China. Actual shipments will depend on establishment approvals, sanitary certification, commercial agreements and compliance with Chinese import requirements.
What could the agreement mean for Brazilian pork producers?
Although the most immediate commercial benefits are likely to be concentrated in slaughterhouses and meat-processing companies, improved export returns could have broader implications for the pork production chain.
Greater revenue from edible by-products may contribute to the overall value of processed animals and support the competitiveness of integrated production systems.
Over time, stronger processing margins could influence investment decisions, slaughter capacity and commercial relationships with producers.
However, the extent to which these benefits reach individual farms will depend on market conditions and the structure of the production chain.
For feed manufacturers and animal nutrition companies, the agreement is also relevant as an indicator of Brazil’s continuing integration into international protein markets.
Export-oriented pork production depends on reliable feed supply, efficient growth performance, consistent carcass quality and compliance with sanitary standards.
These factors remain important regardless of whether the final products are conventional meat cuts or edible by-products.
It would be premature, however, to assume that the protocol alone will increase pig inventories, feed demand or national pork production.
Those outcomes will depend on how much additional trade materializes and whether the new export opportunities translate into higher production rather than improved value from existing slaughter volumes.
China remains a strategic market for Brazilian pork
China’s importance to global pork trade extends beyond the volume of conventional meat imports.
Its demand for specific cuts, organs and other edible by-products can create valuable opportunities for exporting countries whose domestic consumption patterns differ.
According to industry reporting, China imports approximately US$2.5 billion in pork offal annually, illustrating the scale of the market that Brazilian processors are seeking to access more fully.
The expanded protocol therefore represents both an opportunity for additional trade and a means of strengthening an established commercial relationship.
For Brazil, the ability to export a broader range of products may support diversification within its existing Chinese customer base.
For China, the agreement increases the range of potential suppliers for products used in its domestic food market.
As with other agricultural commodities, actual trade flows will remain sensitive to prices, domestic production, exchange rates, animal health conditions and import policies.
Looking ahead: From sanitary agreement to commercial opportunity
The revised Brazil–China sanitary protocol marks an important development for the Brazilian pork sector.
By expanding access to additional edible pork offal and by-products, the agreement creates opportunities to increase export revenue, improve carcass utilization and strengthen the commercial value of existing production.
ABPA’s estimates of more than 100,000 metric tons in potential annual exports and over US$100 million in additional revenue underline the scale of the opportunity.
However, these figures remain projections, and the agreement’s full impact will depend on the speed of facility approvals, market demand and actual shipment volumes.
For Brazil’s pork industry, the significance of the agreement extends beyond exporting more products. It lies in improving the value recovered from each animal, expanding access to international markets and reinforcing the importance of sanitary standards in global livestock trade.
As the new protocol moves into commercial implementation, attention will turn to how quickly Brazilian processors can translate expanded market access into sustained trade and additional value for the wider pork production chain.
Sources
Original news report: Azevedo, D. (October 13, 2026). China opens market to Brazilian pork offal exports. Pig Progress / Food & Agribusiness.
Official industry statement: Associação Brasileira de Proteína Animal (ABPA). (September 26, 2026). ABPA celebra assinatura de protocolo para exportação de miúdos suínos à China.
International trade data: World Bank, World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS), using UN Comtrade data. (2025). Brazil exports of frozen edible swine offal, excluding livers (HS 020649).
Additional industry reporting: eFeedLink. (September 30, 2026). China widens access for Brazilian pork offal in trade worth an estimated US$100 million a year.
This article is an independently rewritten and expanded editorial report based on the cited industry news, ABPA’s official announcement and historical international trade data.