In 2025, China has emerged as the world’s top importer of beef, with total imports reaching 8.32 billion pounds, reshaping global meat trade dynamics. The development has opened significant opportunities for exporting countries, with Pakistan rapidly expanding its footprint in the Chinese market—particularly in the boiled and heat-treated beef segment.
Pakistan’s Growing Presence in China
Pakistan has positioned itself as a key supplier of heat-treated halal beef, benefiting from China’s strict sanitary regulations. The Organic Meat Company Limited (TOMCL) has played a leading role, securing large-scale Chinese contracts. In 2025 alone, TOMCL won a $7.5 million order to supply cooked and heat-treated frozen boneless beef to China, highlighting growing trust in Pakistani exporters.
Chinese buyers are actively sourcing Pakistani beef—especially omasum and frozen halal products—through major B2B trade platforms such as TradeWheel and Go4WorldBusiness, where demand from Chinese trading firms continues to rise.
Surge in Boiled Beef Demand
Pakistan is now the largest exporter of boiled beef to China, with exports in this category surging 139 percent year-on-year during the first half of 2025, reaching $5.24 million. Industry experts attribute this growth to competitive pricing, reliable halal certification, and compliance with Chinese food safety standards.
Export Requirements and Compliance
To access the Chinese market, Pakistani exporters must meet strict requirements set by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC). Currently, only heat-treated beef is widely permitted due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) restrictions. Beef must be boneless, sourced from cattle under 30 months, and processed at a core temperature of 70°C for at least 30 minutes, along with halal certification and GACC-approved facilities.
Future Outlook
At a China-Pakistan meat industry B2B event in July 2025, Chinese firms expressed strong interest in joint ventures and even vaccine manufacturing facilities in Pakistan, including Gwadar. With Pakistani beef priced at around $5.88 per kg, compared to China’s retail prices of $7.14–$10.05 per kg, the sector remains highly competitive, signaling strong growth potential ahead.
