China's Foie Gras Boom Puts French Producers on Alert

From Luxury to Mass Market in China

Foie gras has been a French staple for generations. But China is now catching up fast.

In 2025, China produced an estimated 14,000 metric tons of foie gras, according to estimates from five China-based industry analysts cited by Reuters. France, the world's historic leader, produced 15,044 metric tons last year - a drop of 3%. A decade ago, China made just 2,000 metric tons.

Together, China and France account for more than 80% of global foie gras supply. Hungary and Bulgaria also produce meaningful volumes.

The growth in China is driven by a big shift in who is eating foie gras. It has moved from an expensive restaurant item to an everyday product. In Chinese cities, foie gras now appears in fried rice, hotpot, and frozen desserts. A restaurant portion costs 30 to 70 yuan ($4 to $10) in China - compared to €15 to €40 ($17 to $46) in France.

Chinese Farms Are Scaling Up Fast

Some Chinese producers have grown at a pace that surprises even French competitors.

Li Fengshan, owner of Changhao Biotechnology in eastern China, produced 300 metric tons of foie gras in 2025 and plans to raise output to 500 metric tons this year. A typical French producer makes around 10 tons per year. Li's staff handles more than 400 geese per person from hatching to slaughter, with workers putting in very long hours during the final 10 days of force-feeding. He is now in talks with robotics firms to automate the feeding process.

Government subsidies are also a factor. In Li's case, they cover over 50% of his infrastructure and vaccine costs. Chinese farms also produce heavier livers - at least 1 kilogram per goose, compared to 500 to 550 grams for duck livers from French farms.

China's biggest duck foie gras producer, Jilin Zhengfang Agriculture & Animal Husbandry, produces about 1,500 metric tons per year and is preparing to start exports to Southeast Asia and Europe in 2026. Shandong Chunguan Food recently signed a contract to export to South Korea and is pursuing buyers in Japan, Russia, and Southeast Asia.

Export Growth Is Just Beginning

Less than 5% of China's foie gras production was exported last year. The biggest barrier is China's own customs rules, which require producers to verify the absence of more than 300 chemicals in poultry following vaccination. That process is slow and expensive.

But demand from export markets is growing, and Chinese producers see the price gap as a major advantage once regulatory hurdles are cleared. Li Fengshan shipped 6,000 cans to Dubai in 2025 as a first step into export markets.

France Is Watching Closely

Fabien Chevalier, chairman of the French industry group CIFOG (Comité Interprofessionnel des Palmipèdes à Foie Gras), acknowledged the challenge directly. "We didn't see them coming like that," he said, referring to China's rapid production growth.

Chevalier said Chinese producers have begun appearing at international trade fairs. He expects them to compete for buyers in Southeast Asia and the Middle East - markets where French geographic designations carry less weight. In Europe, regulations and strong consumer preference for products like "Foie Gras du Sud-Ouest" are expected to protect French producers for now.

What Traders Should Know

For B2B buyers and sellers working in duck, goose, or specialty liver products, several developments are worth tracking:

Supply is growing globally: Total foie gras supply is set to increase as Chinese production scales up. This will put pressure on pricing in markets that accept non-French products.
The price gap is large: Chinese foie gras sells at a fraction of the price of French product. Buyers in Asia and the Middle East will increasingly have access to cheaper alternatives.
Export barriers are real but falling: Chinese producers are working through complex certification requirements. More official exports are expected in the next one to two years.
Europe remains protected for now: Regulatory standards and geographic indications - such as "Foie Gras du Sud-Ouest" - give French and other European producers a strong position in EU markets.
Southeast Asia is the key battleground: Both China and France are focusing on this fast-growing region. Traders active there should expect stronger price competition ahead.