The investigation will now run until January 26, 2026, the commerce ministry said, citing "the complexity of the case".

It is the second time the ministry has extended the probe since it launched the investigation last December, as slowing demand squeezes the world's largest market for beef imports and consumption. The probe does not target any specific country.

In August, China extended the review by three months. Any trade measures to curb imports would affect major suppliers such as Argentina, Australia and Brazil.

"The short extension of just two months is unusual - it suggests officials are not as close to reaching a conclusion as some of the industry rumours have suggested," said Even Rogers Pay, a director at Beijing-based Trivium China.

"The next few weeks are a busy political period in China, and many major beef trade partners will also be observing major holidays in December, so it could be that everyone needs the extra weeks for finalising the conclusions," she added.

Chinese authorities have stepped up policy support for the sector this year. In July, an agriculture ministry official said that beef cattle farming had been "generally profitable" for three consecutive months.

Last Friday, the ministry said it aims to consolidate and expand the effects of support measures for beef cattle while promoting a rapid recovery in dairy cow production.

Cattle prices held steady at 25.6 yuan per kilogram this week, up from 23.7 yuan per kilogram during the same period last year, according to data from consultancy Mysteel.

China imported a record 2.87 million metric tons of beef in 2024. Imports for January-October 2025 rose 2.8% year-on-year to 2.41 million tons.

Source: Reuters