What China really thinks of South African beef
FAST FACTS
White fat is very important to China’s food service sector.
In 2020, nearly a quarter (23%) of all beef consumed in China was imported. This amounts to 2,1 million tons.
Traditionally, beef is seen as stewing meat in China.
South Africa’s current beef product offering to the Chinese market is about as awkward as a cow on rollerblades. This is the opinion of Dr Dong Wang, director of China Marketing Solutions, who spoke at the LRF Aldam Stockman School in the Free State in October.
Wang, who was born in China but now lives in Australia, has been actively involved in meat importation into China since that country allowed such imports. His message to South Africa’s beef industry is that if it wants to attract the attention of consumers in China, it has to streamline and improve its export strategy. And the first step to this is to understand the target
