Flax, raw or retted production in China
In 2024 China produced 29,000 t of flax, raw or retted, the 4th largest in the world (2.24% of the world total). Over ten years it fell by 38%. The record was 694,604 t in 2005. Area harvested: 6,800 ha, yield 4.3 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 29,000 t
- World rank
- 4 of 17
- 10-year change
- −38%
- Record
- 694,604 t
- 2005
Flax, raw or retted in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
China compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 2.2%
- 6.1% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 4.3
- world 4.6 (−7.0%)
- kg per person
- 0.02
- world 0.16
- 10-year change
- −38%
- world +69%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Belgium | 91,990 | 7.1% |
| 3 | Belarus | 37,225 | 2.9% |
| 4 | China | 29,000 | 2.2% |
| 5 | Russia | 24,100 | 1.9% |
| 6 | Netherlands | 19,470 | 1.5% |
Map of world production of flax, raw or retted
Share of the world total; China is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Tonnes | Change | Area harvested, ha | Yield, t/ha |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 29,000 | 0.0% | 6,800 | 4.26 |
| 2023 | 29,000 | −0.1% | 6,800 | 4.26 |
| 2022 | 29,035 | +1.7% | 6,769 | 4.29 |
| 2021 | 28,556 | +40% | 6,605 | 4.32 |
| 2020 | 20,349 | +23% | 4,551 | 4.47 |
| 2019 | 16,593 | +28% | 4,440 | 3.74 |
| 2018 | 13,000 | +20% | 3,650 | 3.56 |
| 2017 | 10,800 | −28% | 2,190 | 4.93 |
| 2016 | 15,000 | +20% | 3,000 | 5.00 |
| 2015 | 12,470 | −73% | 2,930 | 4.26 |
| 2014 | 47,026 | +95% | 9,500 | 4.95 |
| 2013 | 24,056 | −37% | 4,700 | 5.12 |
| 2012 | 38,113 | −3.2% | 6,900 | 5.52 |
| 2011 | 39,380 | −12% | 6,080 | 6.48 |
| 2010 | 44,562 | −48% | 8,660 | 5.15 |
| 2009 | 85,488 | −67% | 17,710 | 4.83 |
| 2008 | 256,991 | −11% | 56,720 | 4.53 |
| 2007 | 289,908 | −30% | 66,690 | 4.35 |
| 2006 | 414,771 | −40% | 86,670 | 4.79 |
| 2005 | 694,604 | +3.8% | 157,670 | 4.41 |
| 2004 | 669,000 | +44% | 152,990 | 4.37 |
| 2003 | 465,000 | −11% | 155,270 | 2.99 |
| 2002 | 524,281 | +52% | 138,550 | 3.78 |
| 2001 | 345,175 | +61% | 141,430 | 2.44 |
| 2000 | 214,377 | +26% | 96,200 | 2.23 |
| 1999 | 169,628 | +69% | 53,650 | 3.16 |
| 1998 | 100,168 | −35% | 39,290 | 2.55 |
| 1997 | 153,829 | −42% | 61,280 | 2.51 |
| 1996 | 265,408 | −25% | 92,320 | 2.87 |
| 1995 | 352,414 | +41% | 113,000 | 3.12 |
| 1994 | 250,315 | +33% | 92,500 | 2.71 |
| 1993 | 187,698 | −17% | 68,400 | 2.74 |
| 1992 | 226,000 | −22% | 79,000 | 2.86 |
| 1991 | 289,000 | +19% | 105,530 | 2.74 |
| 1990 | 242,000 | −0.3% | 87,067 | 2.78 |
| 1989 | 242,837 | −34% | 96,900 | 2.51 |
| 1988 | 369,000 | +15% | 142,000 | 2.60 |
| 1987 | 320,000 | +54% | 138,000 | 2.32 |
| 1986 | 208,306 | +31% | 136,000 | 1.53 |
| 1985 | 158,485 | −17% | 132,000 | 1.20 |
| 1984 | 192,000 | +43% | 128,000 | 1.50 |
| 1983 | 134,250 | +120% | 125,000 | 1.07 |
| 1982 | 61,000 | −68% | 120,000 | 0.51 |
| 1981 | 190,000 | +73% | 115,000 | 1.65 |
| 1980 | 110,000 | +7.7% | 110,000 | 1.00 |
| 1979 | 102,100 | +4.0% | 100,000 | 1.02 |
| 1978 | 98,150 | +3.3% | 52,800 | 1.86 |
| 1977 | 95,000 | 0.0% | 51,000 | 1.86 |
| 1976 | 95,000 | +5.6% | 50,000 | 1.90 |
| 1975 | 90,000 | +5.9% | 48,000 | 1.88 |
| 1974 | 85,000 | +2.4% | 46,000 | 1.85 |
| 1973 | 83,000 | +3.8% | 45,000 | 1.84 |
| 1972 | 80,000 | 0.0% | 43,000 | 1.86 |
| 1971 | 80,000 | +6.7% | 44,000 | 1.82 |
| 1970 | 75,000 | +4.2% | 45,000 | 1.67 |
| 1969 | 72,000 | +2.9% | 43,000 | 1.67 |
| 1968 | 70,000 | +7.7% | 45,000 | 1.56 |
| 1967 | 65,000 | +8.3% | 40,000 | 1.63 |
| 1966 | 60,000 | −14% | 40,000 | 1.50 |
| 1965 | 70,000 | 0.0% | 45,000 | 1.56 |
| 1964 | 70,000 | +27% | 45,000 | 1.56 |
| 1963 | 55,000 | 0.0% | 40,000 | 1.38 |
| 1962 | 55,000 | +38% | 40,000 | 1.38 |
| 1961 | 40,000 | — | 35,000 | 1.14 |
Trade, 2024
- Imports
- 143 t USD 198,000
- Importer rank
- 8 of 24
FAOSTAT detailed trade data, release of 23 July 2026; quantities in tonnes, values in current US dollars; exports include re-exports. World exporters and importers
Questions and answers
What is the production of flax, raw or retted in China?
China produced 29,000 t in 2024, 2.2% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does China rank in the world for production of flax, raw or retted?
China ranked 4th of 17 countries in 2024. The largest producer was France with 81.9% of the world total.
How has the production of flax, raw or retted in China changed?
It fell by 38% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +69% for the world. The record was 694,604 t in 2005.
What is the yield of flax, raw or retted in China?
4.3 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (29,000 t from 6,800 ha), against a world average of 4.6 t/ha.
Does China export or import flax, raw or retted?
In 2024 China reported no exports and imports of 143 t (USD 198,000), according to FAOSTAT trade data.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for China is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
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.