China is a state with a developed industrial sector, producing and exporting nearly all types of goods. At the same time, agriculture continues to play a notable role in the country's economy, accounting for 6.8% of GDP and 21.7% of the employed population. China is also among the world's largest producers and exporters of agricultural products. Cropland and pastures occupy a significant share of the country's territory, which ensures consistently high production volumes.
However, China is characterized by substantial regional disparities in the level of development of its agro-industrial complex, driven by natural-climatic and socio-economic conditions.
The bulk of the country's large population lives in the coastal eastern provinces, where the largest urban agglomerations are located, export-oriented industrial production is concentrated, and international ports operate. In these regions there is an acute shortage of land, partly due to rising land values amid urbanization, as well as soil fertility problems caused by long-term intensive agricultural use and pollution from industrialization. Agricultural production today is developing more actively in Northeast and Western China, but these regions are remote from the main centers of consumption and do not produce enough output to meet domestic market demand.
As a result of these natural and economic constraints, China has high demand for imported agricultural goods. The country has long remained one of the world's largest net importers of agricultural products, despite government efforts toward import substitution and improving the efficiency of domestic agriculture.
Historically, vegetable growing is considered the most developed branch of crop farming in China. In 2024, the country produced 690.7 million tonnes of vegetables, root crops, and tubers, 0.3% more than in 2023. The most widespread crop in this category in China is potatoes, with output reaching 94.8 million tonnes in 2024. In addition, local farmers grew 68.6 million tonnes of cucumbers and gherkins and 61.6 million tonnes of tomatoes over the year.
Grain crops — primarily rice, wheat, and corn, which form the foundation of the country's food security — also occupy an important place in China's crop-farming structure. China is a major rice producer and holds leading positions in wheat and corn cultivation. Grain harvests in the country totaled 652.3 million tonnes in 2024, 1.7% above the previous year's level.
Corn accounts for the largest share of production — Chinese farmers grew 294.9 million tonnes of it in 2024, up 2.1% from 2023. Rice and wheat harvests for the year totaled 207.5 million tonnes and 140.1 million tonnes, respectively. In 2025, domestic grain production rose further to 660.2 million tonnes, of which 301.2 million tonnes was corn, 209.0 million tonnes was rice, and 140.1 million tonnes was wheat.
In the fruit and berry category, citrus is the most widespread crop in China, with production growing at a steady pace (an average of 7.3% annually in 2020–2024): 67.9 million tonnes were harvested in 2024, up 5.6% from 2023. Gross watermelon harvests in the country totaled 63.5 million tonnes in 2024, while apples reached 51.3 million tonnes, up 3.4% compared to 2023 (with an average annual growth rate of 3.9% in 2020–2024).
Among industrial crops, sugarcane is the most widespread in China, with domestic production reaching 102.1 million tonnes in 2024. A significant share of this crop is grown in the country's southern and southwestern regions, including Guangxi, Guangdong, and Yunnan provinces. In recent years, gross harvests of this crop have been declining due to low mechanization levels and labor shortages.
China is a major producer of livestock-sector products. The most developed sector is hog farming: China remains the world's largest producer and consumer of pork. Poultry farming and cattle raising — both for meat and dairy — are also actively developing. In recent years the industry has been undergoing industrialization: the share of large agro-industrial complexes is increasing, and levels of biosecurity and automation are rising.
At the same time, problems persist related to dependence on feed supplies, primarily imported soybeans, as well as environmental pressure. Production of raw cow's milk in the country fell 2.9% in 2024 to 40.8 million tonnes, largely due to high market saturation as well as stagnating demand amid declining birth rates and a shrinking population. According to China's National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the figure rose slightly in 2025 to 40.9 million tonnes.
China is the world's largest meat market, accounting for about a quarter of global meat consumption. In 2024, domestic pork production declined slightly compared to 2023, totaling 57.1 million tonnes; however, in 2025 the figure reached 59.4 million tonnes, up 4.1% from the previous year.
Poultry meat ranks second in China's overall meat production structure; output reached 26.6 million tonnes in 2024, up 3.9% from 2023. Chicken eggs are also a crucial product of China's poultry industry, with production reaching a record 617.1 billion units in 2024.
In 2024, China produced 73.6 million tonnes of fish and seafood, more than 82% (60.6 million tonnes) of which came from aquaculture. Traditional catch volumes are declining due to the depletion of aquatic biological resources and government policy aimed at limiting overfishing. The country is the world's largest producer and the second-largest exporter of seafood after Norway, thanks to its extensive coastline, convenient access to the Pacific Ocean, and a powerful fishing fleet. At the same time, China is the second-largest importer of such products after the United States, as the country has developed a rich culture of consuming a wide variety of seafood. Fish of all kinds, shrimp, squid, scallops, and mussels are an integral part of local cuisine and feature in many traditional dishes. Exotic products such as sea cucumbers and sea urchins are also popular in the Chinese market.
In 2025, China's imports of agricultural products totaled $198.9 billion, $3.8 billion below the 2024 level. The reduction in China's agricultural purchases in value terms is linked to the active development of domestic production, changes in demand structure, price conditions on the global food market, and fluctuations in the national currency's exchange rate. Overall, China's agricultural import volumes declined by 4.6% over 2021–2025.
In 2025, soybeans accounted for the largest share of China's agricultural import structure (25.3% of import value, or $50.4 billion). The top five most in-demand imported agricultural products on the domestic market also included beef and edible cattle by-products (7.5%, or $14.9 billion), crustaceans (4.9%, or $9.7 billion), fresh durian (3.8%, or $7.5 billion), and frozen fish (2.7%, or $5.4 billion). In total, the top 10 product categories accounted for 53.6% of China's agricultural import value for the year.
In 2025, the largest year-on-year growth was seen in imports of beef and edible cattle by-products (+7.7%, or +$1.1 billion) and frozen fish (+14.1%, or +$670.2 million). At the same time, there was a significant decline in purchases of soybeans (-4.7%, or -$2.5 billion), pork and edible pig by-products (-8.1%, or -$376.4 million), and inedible fish meal (-9.9%, or -$317.7 million).
The largest exporters of agricultural products to China in 2025 were Brazil (25.5% of China's agricultural imports by value), the United States (7.7%), and Indonesia (5.5%). Combined, the top 10 countries accounted for 69.5% of national agricultural import value for the year.
Over 2021–2025, China most notably increased purchase volumes from Brazil (+15.2%, or +$6.7 billion), Vietnam (2.6-fold, or +$6.5 billion), Russia (1.9-fold, or +$3.7 billion), and Australia (+39.9%, or +$2.8 billion).
In 2025, China purchased 25.6 million tonnes of grain on foreign markets worth $7.5 billion, down 48.9% in volume terms (by 24.5 million tonnes) and 49.2% in value terms (by $7.3 billion) from 2024 levels. The sharp decline in grain imports in recent years is attributable to rising domestic production, accumulated stockpiles, and the country's drive toward self-sufficiency.
In China's grain import structure in 2025, barley accounted for the largest share — 35.7% of import value, or about $2.7 billion. The most in-demand imported grain crops on the Chinese market for the year also included rice (19.1%, or $1.4 billion), grain sorghum (16.6%, or $1.2 billion), wheat (15.2%, or $1.1 billion), and corn (9.2%, or $695.1 million). Together, these categories accounted for 95.8% of China's grain import value.
In 2025, significant growth was observed in the country's imports of rice and oats. Compared to 2024, rice purchase volumes increased 90.9% in volume terms (+1.5 million tonnes) and 56.2% in value terms (+$517.0 million), while oats rose 52.6% (+247.6 thousand tonnes) and 49.1% (+$73.7 million), respectively. At the same time, the country significantly cut corn imports — down 80.8% in volume terms (-11.1 million tonnes) and 81.6% in value terms (-$3.1 billion); wheat imports fell 65.0% (-7.2 million tonnes) and 67.2% (-$2.3 billion); grain sorghum imports fell 47.5% (-4.1 million tonnes) and 51.8% (-$1.3 billion); and barley imports fell 26.8% (-3.8 million tonnes) and 29.1% (-$1.1 billion), respectively.
Among the largest grain-exporting countries to China in 2025, Australia ranked first, accounting for 34.9% of all deliveries by value ($2.6 billion, mainly barley, sorghum, and wheat). Canada is the second-largest supplier of grain to the Chinese market, shipping 4.3 million tonnes of grain (mainly wheat and barley) worth $1.3 billion in 2025 (16.8% of China's import value). Argentina also exported significant grain volumes (grain sorghum) — 2.2 million tonnes worth $559.7 million (7.4%). Russia ranked eighth among the main grain suppliers to the Chinese market in 2025. In total, the top 10 countries accounted for 91.6% of China's grain import value for the year.
In 2025, Vietnam saw the most notable increase in grain shipments to China: exports of this product to the country grew 2.6-fold in volume terms (+435.1 thousand tonnes) and 2.2-fold in value terms (+$197.7 million). At the same time, China significantly reduced grain purchases from the United States and Brazil over the year. Grain supplies from the US decreased by 91.4% in volume terms (-8.8 million tonnes) and 92.0% in value terms (-$2.7 billion), while those from Brazil fell by 75.1% (-4.9 million tonnes) and 78.2% (-$1.5 billion), respectively.
