Agricultural production in China
According to FAOSTAT, China produced 651 million t of cereals (1st in the world), 601 million t of vegetables (1st in the world), 274 million t of fruit (1st in the world), 97.9 million t of meat (1st in the world) and 45.4 million t of milk (4th in the world) in 2024. Its largest crops by volume were maize (295 million t), rice (208 million t) and wheat (140 million t).
- Products recorded
- 192
- World #1
- 80
- products
- World top 10
- 162
- products
- Year
- 2024
China is the world’s largest producer of wheat, potatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes and 67 more products, and ranks second or third for 38 other products.
Among its twelve largest crops, the biggest ten-year change was in mushrooms (+49%), followed by maize (+37%).
Livestock numbers: 70.3 million cattle, 427 million pigs, 183 million sheep and 118 million goats.
Totals by group
| Group | Tonnes | World rank | Share | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All cereals | 651,355,743 | 1 | 20.79% | +16% |
| All vegetables | 601,279,784 | 1 | 50.87% | +13% |
| All fruit | 274,010,692 | 1 | 28.73% | +21% |
| All roots and tubers | 153,174,601 | 1 | 16.22% | +4.6% |
| All sugar crops | 114,505,600 | 3 | 5.12% | −14% |
| All meat | 97,859,402 | 1 | 26.17% | +13% |
| All citrus fruit | 47,697,178 | 1 | 28.8% | +37% |
| All milk | 45,442,920 | 4 | 4.61% | +25% |
| All eggs | 35,880,000 | 1 | 35.88% | +24% |
| All pulses | 4,913,865 | 4 | 5.06% | +20% |
| All tree nuts | 3,325,947 | 1 | 18.07% | +17% |
All products by volume, 2024
| Product | Tonnes | World rank | Share | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maize | 294,920,000 | 2 | 24.21% | +37% |
| Rice (paddy) | 207,530,000 | 2 | 25.3% | −1.0% |
| Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. | 168,809,804 | 1 | 59.97% | +4.0% |
| Wheat | 140,100,000 | 1 | 17.55% | +11% |
| Sugar cane | 102,094,400 | 3 | 5.26% | −19% |
| Potatoes | 94,806,520 | 1 | 24.28% | +13% |
| Cucumbers | 68,592,516 | 1 | 78.08% | +21% |
| Watermelons | 63,510,422 | 1 | 60.51% | +3.3% |
| Tomatoes | 61,614,749 | 1 | 32.69% | +17% |
| Pork (pig meat) | 57,060,000 | 1 | 45.52% | +0.6% |
| Sweet potatoes | 51,354,274 | 1 | 56.48% | −7.9% |
| Apples | 51,285,100 | 1 | 52.4% | +25% |
| Mushrooms | 48,607,249 | 1 | 94.21% | +49% |
| Cow milk | 40,790,000 | 3 | 5.12% | +29% |
| Beer | 36,411,000 | 1 | 19.68% | −27% |
| Cabbages | 36,201,344 | 1 | 47.96% | +11% |
| Eggplants | 34,870,863 | 1 | 60.6% | +18% |
| Hen eggs | 30,856,800 | 1 | 32.93% | +25% |
| Spinach | 28,322,517 | 1 | 92.2% | +28% |
| Tangerines and mandarins | 27,000,000 | 1 | 52.01% | +66% |
| Onions, dry | 24,221,236 | 2 | 22.37% | +7.5% |
| Green garlic | 21,645,771 | 1 | 72.9% | +8.4% |
| Pears | 20,987,900 | 1 | 75.94% | +17% |
| Soybeans | 20,650,000 | 4 | 5.19% | +70% |
| Groundnuts (peanuts) | 19,613,100 | 1 | 34.07% | +19% |
| Carrots and turnips | 19,040,468 | 1 | 42.17% | +10% |
| Seed cotton | 18,700,000 | 1 | 25.68% | +0.9% |
| Other beans, green | 18,649,935 | 1 | 71.92% | +9.7% |
| Peaches and nectarines | 17,600,000 | 1 | 63.1% | +42% |
| Soya bean oil | 17,356,200 | 1 | 28.97% | +64% |
| Chillies and peppers, green | 17,307,027 | 1 | 38.66% | +6.4% |
| Rapeseed | 16,868,900 | 2 | 19.2% | +14% |
| Grapes | 16,821,674 | 1 | 22.16% | +43% |
| Tea leaves | 16,260,900 | 1 | 49.68% | +71% |
| Chicken meat | 15,350,000 | 2 | 11.96% | +25% |
| Lettuce and chicory | 14,694,796 | 1 | 52.06% | +5.9% |
| Melons | 13,222,785 | 1 | 46.81% | +20% |
| Sugar beet | 12,411,200 | 9 | 4.23% | +55% |
| Peas, green | 12,028,874 | 1 | 55.35% | +12% |
| Bananas | 11,759,700 | 2 | 8.44% | −0.3% |
| Raw sugar | 9,960,000 | 4 | 5.31% | −33% |
| Cauliflower and broccoli | 9,806,141 | 1 | 36.51% | +5.7% |
| Cotton seed | 9,400,000 | 2 | 22.92% | −26% |
| Asparagus | 7,784,570 | 1 | 87.37% | +12% |
| Pumpkins and squash | 7,652,952 | 2 | 22.13% | +5.9% |
| Oranges | 7,620,000 | 2 | 11.33% | −2.3% |
| Beef (cattle meat) | 7,011,810 | 3 | 10.05% | +27% |
| Plums | 6,900,813 | 1 | 54.37% | +11% |
| Duck meat | 5,962,500 | 1 | 81.29% | +113% |
| Cotton lint | 5,617,900 | 1 | 22.74% | −11% |
| Other citrus fruit, n.e.c. | 5,507,206 | 1 | 41.11% | +9.5% |
| Goose meat | 5,287,500 | 1 | 97.79% | +116% |
| Grapefruit and pomelos | 5,250,000 | 1 | 53.21% | +42% |
| Molasses | 5,231,262 | 3 | 7.14% | +14% |
| Cassava | 5,069,031 | 17 | 1.48% | +9.1% |
| Eggs from other birds in shell, fresh, n.e.c. | 5,023,200 | 1 | 79.72% | +16% |
| Rapeseed or canola oil, crude | 4,326,300 | 2 | 13.78% | −15% |
| Strawberries | 4,115,659 | 1 | 38.36% | +66% |
| Mangoes and guavas | 4,075,418 | 3 | 6.55% | +61% |
| Persimmons | 3,929,729 | 1 | 78.07% | +33% |
| Other tropical fruits, n.e.c. | 3,834,893 | 1 | 16.04% | +2.9% |
| Tea, packed | 3,541,100 | 1 | 48.52% | +84% |
| Fat of pigs | 3,347,520 | 2 | 29.44% | +0.6% |
| Buffalo milk | 3,167,437 | 3 | 2.07% | +2.2% |
| Sorghum | 3,069,546 | 8 | 4.78% | +6.4% |
| Millet | 2,783,739 | 3 | 9.02% | +19% |
| Sheep meat | 2,640,525 | 1 | 22.88% | +21% |
| Other fruits, n.e.c. | 2,639,989 | 3 | 6.73% | +5.1% |
| Skim milk of cows | 2,599,482 | 18 | 1.82% | +19% |
| Pig fat, rendered | 2,577,258 | 1 | 41.75% | +13% |
| Goat meat | 2,536,975 | 1 | 32.77% | +21% |
| Edible offal of pigs, fresh, chilled or frozen | 2,510,640 | 1 | 30.58% | +0.6% |
| Sunflower seed | 2,348,400 | 4 | 4.5% | −5.8% |
| Lemons and limes | 2,319,972 | 3 | 10% | +8.9% |
| Tobacco, unmanufactured | 2,256,400 | 1 | 37.31% | −25% |
| Kiwi fruit | 2,153,480 | 1 | 48.75% | +17% |
| Pineapples | 2,145,780 | 5 | 7.31% | +65% |
| Taro | 1,890,520 | 3 | 10.38% | +3.2% |
| Groundnut oil | 1,848,600 | 2 | 28.75% | −7.4% |
| Wine | 1,761,139 | 5 | 7.21% | +11% |
| Broad beans and horse beans, dry | 1,754,948 | 1 | 28.04% | +23% |
| Raw hides and skins of cattle | 1,558,180 | 1 | 17.78% | +27% |
| Chestnuts, in shell | 1,528,549 | 1 | 72.86% | −8.4% |
| Edible offal of cattle, fresh, chilled or frozen | 1,527,016 | 1 | 15.75% | +27% |
| Walnuts, in shell | 1,500,000 | 1 | 34.49% | +67% |
| Peas, dry | 1,489,237 | 3 | 10.52% | +10% |
| Beans, dry | 1,322,698 | 6 | 4.37% | +26% |
| Cottonseed oil | 1,309,500 | 1 | 31.37% | −20% |
| Sheep milk | 1,256,430 | 1 | 12.8% | +2.7% |
| Tallowtree seeds | 1,051,618 | 1 | 100% | +6.0% |
| Barley | 985,986 | 29 | 0.69% | −33% |
| Spring onions and shallots | 908,012 | 1 | 16.28% | +8.0% |
| Natural rubber | 877,600 | 5 | 5.92% | +4.5% |
| Buffalo meat | 779,090 | 3 | 10.67% | +27% |
| Oil palm fruit | 667,212 | 20 | 0.16% | −1.3% |
| Raw hides and skins of sheep or lambs | 592,771 | 1 | 27.23% | +21% |
| Papayas | 587,829 | 7 | 4.01% | +55% |
| Ginger | 585,378 | 3 | 11.98% | +25% |
| Oil of maize | 540,000 | 2 | 17.54% | +109% |
| Oats | 534,689 | 13 | 2.38% | +6.9% |
| Edible offal of sheep, fresh, chilled or frozen | 528,105 | 1 | 26.65% | +21% |
| Rye | 514,091 | 6 | 4.43% | −1.1% |
| Raw hides and skins of goats or kids | 507,395 | 1 | 33.27% | +21% |
| Buckwheat | 504,358 | 2 | 25.6% | −11% |
| Other meat of mammals, fresh or chilled | 503,060 | 1 | 32.07% | +9.8% |
| Edible offal of goat, fresh, chilled or frozen | 446,508 | 1 | 30.22% | +21% |
| Rabbit meat | 445,128 | 1 | 52.54% | −43% |
| Honey | 444,800 | 1 | 22.38% | −3.7% |
| Sesame seed | 380,000 | 8 | 5.69% | −40% |
| Coconuts, in shell | 373,544 | 16 | 0.57% | −3.6% |
| Triticale | 369,420 | 6 | 2.98% | −4.0% |
| Tung nuts | 365,425 | 1 | 86.96% | −12% |
| Wool, greasy | 364,481 | 1 | 21.49% | −21% |
| Cattle fat, unrendered | 342,800 | 2 | 10.04% | +27% |
| Chillies and peppers, dry | 326,172 | 2 | 5.98% | +6.1% |
| Sunflower-seed oil, crude | 322,900 | 12 | 1.43% | −42% |
| Oil of linseed | 319,300 | 1 | 40.88% | +102% |
| Other oil seeds, n.e.c. | 315,614 | 2 | 13.02% | −2.2% |
| Linseed | 280,000 | 3 | 9.31% | −28% |
| Oil of sesame seed | 275,800 | 1 | 22.95% | +25% |
| Edible offal of buffalo, fresh, chilled or frozen | 242,384 | 2 | 19.4% | +27% |
| Raw hides and skins of buffaloes | 225,070 | 2 | 15.02% | +27% |
| Goat milk | 206,322 | 22 | 1.01% | −31% |
| Green maize | 194,159 | 14 | 2.05% | +16% |
| Horse meat, fresh or chilled | 180,716 | 1 | 24.19% | −7.3% |
| Lentils, dry | 167,596 | 9 | 2.12% | +34% |
| Dates | 162,330 | 12 | 1.63% | +4.9% |
| Other stone fruits | 159,943 | 1 | 25.87% | +6.7% |
| Other pulses n.e.c. | 149,363 | 6 | 3.36% | +21% |
| Silk-worm cocoons suitable for reeling | 147,000 | 2 | 31.68% | −68% |
| Other nuts | 144,751 | 1 | 13.28% | +11% |
| Cheese from skimmed cow milk | 136,144 | 7 | 4.98% | +9.9% |
| Tallow | 134,207 | 12 | 1.63% | +24% |
| Avocados | 133,931 | 16 | 1.19% | +16% |
| Leeks | 122,360 | 7 | 5.73% | +7.3% |
| Broad beans and horse beans, green | 120,736 | 2 | 8.26% | +9.4% |
| Quinces | 116,514 | 2 | 16.75% | +7.1% |
| Coffee, green | 114,000 | 15 | 1.01% | −11% |
| Sheep fat, unrendered | 113,165 | 1 | 17.64% | +21% |
| Palm oil | 112,877 | 21 | 0.14% | −19% |
| Whole milk, evaporated | 112,101 | 9 | 3.9% | +18% |
| Butter of cow milk | 109,452 | 16 | 1.83% | +19% |
| Other stimulant, spice and aromatic crops, n.e.c. | 107,243 | 8 | 3.24% | +8.1% |
| True hemp, raw or retted | 106,345 | 2 | 28.86% | +232% |
| Goat fat, unrendered | 101,479 | 1 | 32.37% | +21% |
| Cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers | 94,216 | 1 | 38.48% | +33% |
| Artichokes | 83,705 | 6 | 4.83% | +7.2% |
| Pistachios, in shell | 78,986 | 5 | 5.72% | +1.0% |
| Cheese from milk of sheep, fresh or processed | 74,811 | 2 | 14.38% | +7.5% |
| Apricots | 60,436 | 16 | 1.31% | +15% |
| Other berries and fruits of the genus vaccinium n.e.c. | 58,856 | 7 | 5.45% | +5.7% |
| Ramie, raw or retted | 55,418 | 1 | 95.39% | −52% |
| Buffalo fat, unrendered | 55,402 | 3 | 12.46% | +27% |
| Other starchy roots and tubers | 54,255 | 18 | 0.55% | +13% |
| Anise, coriander, cumin and fennel | 52,407 | 6 | 1.96% | +6.4% |
| Raw silk (not thrown) | 50,000 | 1 | 53.2% | −62% |
| Almonds, in shell | 48,000 | 13 | 1.21% | +12% |
| Donkey meat | 47,876 | 1 | 64.03% | −75% |
| Camel meat | 45,033 | 6 | 6.81% | +165% |
| Cereals n.e.c. | 43,913 | 10 | 0.55% | −0.4% |
| Cherries | 36,181 | 15 | 1.17% | +5.2% |
| Pepper (black, white) | 34,588 | 9 | 3.71% | +5.7% |
| Safflower seed | 34,106 | 6 | 4.92% | +3.4% |
| Palm kernels | 33,097 | 21 | 0.17% | −40% |
| Flax, raw or retted | 29,000 | 4 | 2.24% | −38% |
| Melonseed | 27,913 | 7 | 2.86% | −6.5% |
| Hazelnuts, in shell | 25,437 | 7 | 2.1% | +7.7% |
| Buttermilk, dry | 23,713 | 8 | 3.62% | +16% |
| Camel milk | 22,730 | 12 | 0.54% | +62% |
| Edible offals of horses and other equines, fresh, chilled or frozen | 22,589 | 1 | 23.76% | −7.3% |
| Kenaf | 22,245 | 3 | 9.67% | −5.4% |
| Castor oil seeds | 20,000 | 4 | 1.1% | −50% |
| Mustard seed | 19,435 | 8 | 2.25% | +6.1% |
| Whole milk, condensed | 18,387 | 18 | 0.94% | +22% |
| Whey, condensed | 17,631 | 12 | 0.68% | +15% |
| Oil of palm kernel | 16,934 | 17 | 0.2% | −36% |
| Chick peas, dry | 15,645 | 19 | 0.09% | +57% |
| Cow peas, dry | 14,377 | 21 | 0.14% | +6.5% |
| Sisal | 14,292 | 5 | 6.11% | +4.4% |
| Figs | 14,153 | 16 | 1.06% | +5.7% |
| Cheese from milk of buffalo, fresh or processed | 13,128 | 7 | 2.01% | +7.6% |
| Butter of buffalo milk | 9,846 | 5 | 0.52% | +7.6% |
| Jute, raw or retted | 9,632 | 6 | 0.26% | −81% |
| Mule meat | 9,189 | 1 | 92.17% | −82% |
| Hop cones | 7,951 | 4 | 5.02% | +0.1% |
| Cheese from milk of goats, fresh or processed | 6,507 | 13 | 1.42% | −23% |
| Edible offals of camels and other camelids, fresh, chilled or frozen | 6,286 | 6 | 6.63% | +166% |
| Fat of camels | 2,064 | 5 | 7% | +165% |
| Cheese from whole cow milk | 1,870 | 86 | 0.01% | +29% |
| Cloves (whole stems) | 1,337 | 7 | 0.67% | +5.8% |
| Vanilla | 435 | 5 | 6.11% | +52% |
| Cashew nuts, in shell | 224 | 33 | 0.01% | −16% |
Live animals, 2024
| Product | Head | World rank | Share | 10-year change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chickens | 5,243,707,000 | 1 | 18.94% | +16% |
| Ducks | 830,219,000 | 1 | 65.12% | +27% |
| Pigs | 427,430,000 | 1 | 44.41% | −11% |
| Geese | 332,169,000 | 1 | 86.84% | +22% |
| Sheep | 182,939,000 | 1 | 13.43% | +20% |
| Goats | 117,554,000 | 2 | 9.9% | −14% |
| Rabbits and hares | 114,905,000 | 1 | 54.68% | −48% |
| Cattle | 70,325,500 | 5 | 4.45% | +12% |
| Buffalo | 30,139,500 | 3 | 14.22% | +12% |
| Bees | 9,362,193 | 2 | 9.2% | +4.6% |
| Horses | 3,521,000 | 6 | 6.26% | −18% |
| Asses | 1,299,000 | 11 | 2.41% | −70% |
| Camels | 634,000 | 11 | 1.43% | +132% |
| Mules and hinnies | 410,000 | 3 | 5.31% | −70% |
China among the world’s producers, 2024
Share of world production by country for the largest crops of China, which is outlined on the map.
Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
Production per person, 2024
China had 1.42 billion inhabitants in 2024 (FAOSTAT estimate). Production of its largest products per inhabitant, compared with the world average:
| Product | kg per person | World, kg per person | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maize | 208 | 149 | 1.4× |
| Rice (paddy) | 146 | 100 | 1.5× |
| Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. | 119 | 34.5 | 3.4× |
| Wheat | 98.7 | 97.8 | 1.0× |
| Sugar cane | 71.9 | 238 | 0.3× |
| Potatoes | 66.8 | 47.8 | 1.4× |
| Cucumbers | 48.3 | 10.8 | 4.5× |
| Watermelons | 44.7 | 12.9 | 3.5× |
| Tomatoes | 43.4 | 23.1 | 1.9× |
| Pork (pig meat) | 40.2 | 15.4 | 2.6× |
| Sweet potatoes | 36.2 | 11.1 | 3.2× |
| Apples | 36.1 | 12.0 | 3.0× |
Production divided by population; it is not consumption, because crops are traded and used for feed, processing and industry.
Trade in agricultural products, 2024
China reported exports of 161 and imports of 146 of the products covered here; it was the world’s largest exporter of leeks and other alliaceous vegetables; other vegetables, fresh n.e.c.; apples; spinach; green garlic; grapes and 13 more.
Largest exports by value
| Product | Tonnes | Value | USD/kg | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green garlic | 2,353,892 | USD 3.15 bn | 1.34 | 1 of 107 |
| Tea leaves | 374,122 | USD 1.42 bn | 3.79 | 2 of 143 |
| Tangerines, mandarins, clementines | 1,081,211 | USD 1.05 bn | 0.97 | 2 of 107 |
| Apples | 980,936 | USD 1.05 bn | 1.07 | 1 of 105 |
| Other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. | 833,555 | USD 993 m | 1.19 | 1 of 132 |
| Grapes | 593,595 | USD 928 m | 1.56 | 1 of 103 |
| Chillies and peppers, dry (Capsicum spp., Pimenta spp.), raw | 355,985 | USD 911 m | 2.56 | 2 of 127 |
| Sunflower seed | 480,200 | USD 819 m | 1.71 | 5 of 95 |
| Meat of chickens, fresh or chilled | 415,301 | USD 819 m | 1.97 | 8 of 123 |
| Ginger, raw | 484,369 | USD 734 m | 1.52 | 1 of 115 |
Largest imports by value
| Product | Tonnes | Value | USD/kg | World rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soya beans | 105,032,704 | USD 52.73 bn | 0.50 | 1 of 165 |
| Other tropical fruits, n.e.c. | 1,852,456 | USD 7.67 bn | 4.14 | 1 of 107 |
| Cotton lint, ginned | 2,608,557 | USD 5.31 bn | 2.04 | 1 of 148 |
| Barley | 14,239,729 | USD 3.79 bn | 0.27 | 1 of 132 |
| Maize (corn) | 13,635,894 | USD 3.76 bn | 0.28 | 3 of 190 |
| Cherries | 451,018 | USD 3.69 bn | 8.17 | 1 of 133 |
| Wheat | 11,007,651 | USD 3.48 bn | 0.32 | 3 of 176 |
| Rape or colza seed | 6,385,584 | USD 3.44 bn | 0.54 | 1 of 91 |
| Palm oil | 3,665,304 | USD 3.38 bn | 0.92 | 2 of 191 |
| Meat of chickens, fresh or chilled | 925,833 | USD 2.89 bn | 3.12 | 2 of 189 |
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026: quantities in tonnes and values in current US dollars as reported; exports include re-exports. Only the FAO trade items that match Husfarm production pages are included: meat covers fresh or chilled meat only (frozen meat is a separate item), and processed goods such as milled rice or flour are not listed.
Questions and answers
What are the main crops produced in China?
By volume, the largest products of China in 2024 were maize (295 million t), rice (paddy) (208 million t), other vegetables, fresh n.e.c. (169 million t), according to FAOSTAT.
Is China the world’s largest producer of anything?
Yes. In 2024 China was the world’s largest producer of 80 products: other vegetables, fresh n.e.c., wheat, potatoes, cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes, pork (pig meat), sweet potatoes, apples, mushrooms and others.
How much maize does China produce per person?
About 208 kg per inhabitant in 2024, compared with a world average of 149 kg (production divided by population, FAOSTAT).
What does China export most?
By value, its largest agricultural exports in 2024 among the products covered here were green garlic (USD 3.15 bn), tea leaves (USD 1.42 bn), tangerines, mandarins, clementines (USD 1.05 bn), according to FAOSTAT.
What does China import most?
By value, its largest agricultural imports in 2024 among the products covered here were soya beans (USD 52.73 bn), other tropical fruits, n.e.c. (USD 7.67 bn), cotton lint, ginned (USD 5.31 bn).
Where does this data come from?
Production, trade and population figures are from FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Rankings, shares and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.