ERS China Program...

China is the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports and is the world's largest producer and consumer of a range of commodities. ERS maintains an active research program that investigates how policy and economic developments in China affect global agricultural markets. In addition to the products described here, further information on China is available in the ERS China Briefing Room.

China's Changing Food Market

Commercialization of Food Consumption in Rural China
Rural Chinese people achieve a surprisingly high caloric intake on food expenditures equivalent to just $107 per year by consuming largely grain and vegetables they produce themselves. However, purchases of food in rural China grew at an annual rate of 7.4 percent over the past decade.

China’s Modernizing Supermarket Sector Presents Major Opportunities for U.S. Agricultural Exporters
Supermarkets are transforming food consumption, marketing, and production in China and creating new opportunities for agricultural exporters.

China by the Numbers

China Agricultural and Economic Data
This online collection of hard-to-find statistics puts hundreds of agricultural-related data series at the fingertips of analysts worldwide.

China's Agricultural Imports Boomed During 2003-04
China's agricultural imports more than doubled in 2 years, and China became the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports. The outlook for Chinese imports is favorable due to strong economic growth and liberalization of the economy.

China: A Study of Dynamic Growth
China 's rapid economic growth has been driven by high rates of investment, gains in productivity, and liberalized foreign trade and investment. China's growth is likely to continue, but the Chinese economy faces some possibly unsustainable pressures.