China presents a great opportunity for U.S. producers who can tap into the rising consumer need for increased protein in their diet. Chinese consumers already eat double the amount of meat as their American counterparts each year, and with food safety scares continuing to be a problem, they are increasingly seeking and spending more on safe, high-quality food sources.
Though restrictions exist on beef and poultry, there are also significant non-animal protein opportunities for U.S. producers in other fresh and frozen markets. For example, U.S. dairy exports capitalized on China’s increased consumption of proteins by growing over 30% in 2013. However, supplying the world’s second largest economy with both animal and non-animal proteins requires careful planning and a deep understanding of the consumer and the associated route-to-market challenges.