Summary
Official grading for Australian Wagyu spans M1 to M9, with M9+ approaching full-blood quality and comparable to Japan's A5 grade. M9+ typically sells at 1.5 to 2 times the price of M9. In June 2025, the first shipment of eight full-blood Australian Wagyu entered through Tianjin port.
Key domestic suppliers include Shanghai Meishi, which commands a quarter of the Jiangyang market, and Dandenong, which operates Australian plant number 3277 and has registered capital of 5 million yuan. ABS Australia is scheduled to sign an agreement in 2026 to resume Wagyu semen exports to China.
Commentary
Australian Wagyu exports to China are gaining momentum. M9+ prices run 1.5 to 2 times above M9. Full-blood Wagyu returned to China in 2025, and a 2026 semen export agreement is set to further lift China's domestic premium beef output.
Small and medium-sized New Zealand exporters should watch for intensifying competition in grain-fed marbled beef. Grass-fed beef, with its lower fat content, can target healthy light-meal channels while leveraging tariff advantages under the NZ-China FTA. Shanghai Meishi, holding a quarter of the wholesale market, could serve as a distribution partner for NZ's grass-fed lines.
Dandenong, with its Australian plant number 3277, offers a direct sourcing option. New Zealand needs to strengthen its traceable grass-fed brand and avoid head-on competition.
Keywords: Australian Wagyu, imported beef, procurement guide, M9+, Shanghai Meishi, Dandenong, meat plant number, compliance
Source: Sina
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