In the report, Rabobank's China-based senior animal proteins analyst Chenjun Pan said several major trends were expected to drive future change in the Chinese market, including more diversified consumer groups, increasingly blurred distinctions between various market segments and channels, and a higher demand for convenience and smaller packaging.
Among the major animal proteins, the report said Chinese pork consumption had seen the greatest changes in recent years as a result of swine fever.
Rabobank Australia senior animal proteins analyst Angus Gidley-Baird said Chinese pork supply dropped by more than 20 per cent in 2019, and a further drop of 15 to 20 per cent was expected in 2020.
“Despite two years of strong imports, the supply drop has been so drastic that pork consumption per capita in China has dropped from 40 kg in 2018 to 32.6 kg in 2019 and is expected to drop to 28 kg in 2020,” he said.
Mr Gidley-Baird said in the coming years, Chinese pork retail prices were expected to stay relatively high, with consumption comparatively low, and this would lead to ongoing opportunities for substitute meats such as poultry and beef.
“As production recovers, Chinese pork consumption will increase again, albeit we do not believe it will return to pre-African swine fever levels.
“The longer-term opportunities for other proteins will rest on whether they can penetrate into a wider consumer base and establish new dietary habits during this time window before Chinese pork production recovers.”
Mr Gidley-Baird said there were signs Chinese dietary patterns were altering in ways that would support longer-term beef consumption growth and with static Chinese beef production, further growth of Chinese beef imports was a good opportunity for Australia.
“Beef, which used to be consumed in China mainly in eating-out-of-home channels, is now finding ways to penetrate into home cooking,” he said.
“In the first eight months of 2020, Chinese beef retail prices increased faster than wholesale prices, indicating that demand from retail consumers is increasing strongly.
“In this way, beef is unlocking a vast retail market, albeit gradually, which will support consumption growth in the years to come.”
Mr Gidley-Baird said Australia's total exports of beef to China had declined by 16 per cent this year up until August, due to lower production, export licence suspensions and triggering of the trade agreement safeguard measure.
“However, we have seen chilled beef volumes to China increase 45 per cent,” he said.
“Some of this would be heading into that growing retail channel.
“Australia's ability to send chilled product and measures to increase our capacity will increasingly allow us to tap into this growing demand.”