Browse Data and Analysis

U.S. pet food exports to China have grown with the increasing number of registered facilities and approved import licenses. The largest share of Chinese pet owners lives in second-tier cities, with export opportunities for U.S. pet food brands that want to reach more of the Chinese market.

China removed quarantine access requirements for frozen fruit imports in August 2024. This allows frozen fruit imports from any country, according to the updated imported food catalogue by the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

The National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) published the National Food Safety Standard for “Sanitary Practices for The Production of Cooked Meat Products” (GB 19303-2023) on September 6, 2023.

Forecast soybean production for MY 24/25 is unchanged at 19.6 million metric tons (MMT) based on a planted area of 9.95 million hectares (Mha). Relatively low and declining soybean meal (SBM) prices since the beginning of MY 23/24 could encourage more SBM use in feed production.

Forecast MY 24/25 cotton production is 5.9 million metric tons (MMT), unchanged from the previous report and the estimate for MY 23/24. A marginally higher yield estimate of 2,014 kg/Ha offset a slightly lower planted area unchanged from the previous report at 2.93 million hectares (MHa) on lower cotton profits in regions outside Xinjiang in MY 23/24.

On February 13, 2023, the National Health Commission (NHC) published an announcement to collect public comments from domestic stakeholders on the formulation or revision of 38 national food safety standards.

On February 2, 2023, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) published a notice on the "Guidelines for Applications for New Plant-Extracted Feed Additives" along with revisions on approved additives. This report provides an unofficial translation of the MARA notice.

On February 15, 2023, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced to extend the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusion period for sorbitol and other select U.S. commodities to September 15, 2023.

China remained the world's largest seafood producer in 2022, with production expected to reach 67.5 million metric tons (MMT), up from the 66.9 MMT in 2021. Production growth continues to be driven by aquaculture which is expected to increase 1.2 percent year-on-year to reach 54.6 MMT in 2022.

On February 3, 2023, China notified a new national standard to the World Trade Organization (WTO) restricting excessive packaging for edible agricultural products (G/TBT/N/CHN/1715). The deadline for comment submission is April 4, 2023.

On February 13, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Central Committee and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) State Council published the 2023 “No. 1 Document,” providing broad guidance for resource allocation and development goals in China’s agricultural sector. Food security remains a top focus with priority given to boosting production of grains and oilseeds and various policies to support farmer income and improvements in rural China.

In 2022, the total value of all U.S. agricultural and related products exported to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) reached a record $40.9 billion, an increase of 14.5 percent compared to the previous year.