Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in China
China: Food exports (% of merchandise exports) was 2.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in China, 1984–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
China recorded 2.3% for food exports in 2025.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 15.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in China peaked at 15.3% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2022.
That places China 171st out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in China, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 15.3% | — |
| 1985 | 12.6% | -17.7% |
| 1986 | 12.4% | -1.2% |
| 1987 | 14.6% | +17.5% |
| 1992 | 11.3% | -22.2% |
| 1993 | 10.8% | -4.5% |
| 1994 | 10.1% | -7.1% |
| 1995 | 8.3% | -17.9% |
| 1996 | 8.2% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 7.1% | -13.2% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | -7.2% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | -9.2% |
| 2000 | 5.4% | -9.6% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | -1.8% |
| 2002 | 5.0% | -7.1% |
| 2003 | 4.4% | -11.6% |
| 2004 | 3.5% | -20.1% |
| 2005 | 3.2% | -7.8% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -11.1% |
| 2007 | 2.7% | -5.5% |
| 2008 | 2.5% | -7.7% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | +17.2% |
| 2010 | 2.8% | -4.8% |
| 2011 | 2.9% | +2.0% |
| 2012 | 2.7% | -3.7% |
| 2013 | 2.7% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 2.7% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +13.6% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 2.9% | -4.5% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 2.7% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 2.3% | -13.6% |
| 2022 | 2.3% | -1.0% |
| 2023 | 2.5% | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 2.4% | -1.2% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | -3.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2.3% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.9%, 12% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 2.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.7%, 17% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 13.7% | 12.4% | 15.3% | 4 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 6.0% | 11.3% | 8 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | 2.5% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 2.7% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.4% | 2.3% | 2.7% | 6 |
Countries ranked near China
- 168 Finland 3.1% compare
- 169 United Arab Emirates 2.9% compare
- 170 Suriname 2.4% compare
- 172 Singapore 2.3% compare
- 173 Saudi Arabia 2.2% compare
- 174 Switzerland 2.2% compare
More private sector data for China
- Merchandise trade 32.6% (2025)
- Food imports 8.0% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 50.9% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 2.58 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 619.60 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 90.5% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 3.77 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 383.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 2,682 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1934 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in China?
- Food exports in China was 2.3% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 15.3% in 1984.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2022.
- How does China rank for food exports?
- China ranks 171st out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food exports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.