Melons production in China
In 2024 China produced 13.2 million t of melons, the largest total in the world (46.8% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 20%. The record was 13.5 million t in 2019. Area harvested: 377,305 ha, yield 35.0 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 13.2 million t
- World rank
- 1 of 98
- 10-year change
- +20%
- Record
- 13.5 million t
- 2019
Melons in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
China compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 46.8%
- 42.0% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 35.0
- world 27.1 (+29%)
- kg per person
- 9.32
- world 3.46
- 10-year change
- +20%
- world +7.3%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | 13,222,785 | 46.8% |
| 2 | India | 1,540,738 | 5.5% |
| 3 | Kazakhstan | 1,498,584 | 5.3% |
Map of world production of melons
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 | 13,222,785 | +0.4% | 377,305 | 35.05 |
| 2023 | 13,169,360 | −0.7% | 375,739 | 35.05 |
| 2022 | 13,262,383 | +0.2% | 377,732 | 35.11 |
| 2021 | 13,236,612 | +1.7% | 378,445 | 34.98 |
| 2020 | 13,009,084 | −3.9% | 371,039 | 35.06 |
| 2019 | 13,541,452 | +2.9% | 383,712 | 35.29 |
| 2018 | 13,159,300 | +6.8% | 380,585 | 34.58 |
| 2017 | 12,326,500 | +3.8% | 348,820 | 35.34 |
| 2016 | 11,876,400 | +6.2% | 345,930 | 34.33 |
| 2015 | 11,179,600 | +1.1% | 345,560 | 32.35 |
| 2014 | 11,058,600 | −1.5% | 335,190 | 32.99 |
| 2013 | 11,223,600 | +4.9% | 336,230 | 33.38 |
| 2012 | 10,701,400 | −1.7% | 333,910 | 32.05 |
| 2011 | 10,889,800 | +0.3% | 346,300 | 31.45 |
| 2010 | 10,860,100 | +1.0% | 354,540 | 30.63 |
| 2009 | 10,749,200 | +1.1% | 339,670 | 31.65 |
| 2008 | 10,634,500 | +10% | 335,660 | 31.68 |
| 2007 | 9,630,300 | +1.3% | 336,320 | 28.63 |
| 2006 | 9,505,800 | +7.7% | 346,420 | 27.44 |
| 2005 | 8,825,700 | +9.4% | 338,940 | 26.04 |
| 2004 | 8,064,200 | −2.2% | 319,420 | 25.25 |
| 2003 | 8,242,300 | −4.7% | 355,380 | 23.19 |
| 2002 | 8,648,000 | +16% | 366,840 | 23.57 |
| 2001 | 7,425,200 | +2.5% | 329,910 | 22.51 |
| 2000 | 7,243,508 | +26% | 309,180 | 23.43 |
| 1999 | 5,767,100 | +18% | 234,130 | 24.63 |
| 1998 | 4,867,079 | +11% | 199,870 | 24.35 |
| 1997 | 4,377,959 | −21% | 158,950 | 27.54 |
| 1996 | 5,570,060 | +11% | 242,360 | 22.98 |
| 1995 | 5,000,000 | +6.4% | 236,470 | 21.14 |
| 1994 | 4,700,000 | +2.2% | 254,000 | 18.50 |
| 1993 | 4,600,000 | +21% | 253,000 | 18.18 |
| 1992 | 3,800,000 | +27% | 200,000 | 19.00 |
| 1991 | 3,000,000 | +3.4% | 176,000 | 17.05 |
| 1990 | 2,900,000 | −17% | 166,000 | 17.47 |
| 1989 | 3,500,000 | −17% | 220,000 | 15.91 |
| 1988 | 4,200,000 | +2.4% | 260,000 | 16.15 |
| 1987 | 4,100,000 | +14% | 260,000 | 15.77 |
| 1986 | 3,600,000 | +9.1% | 230,000 | 15.65 |
| 1985 | 3,300,000 | +57% | 212,000 | 15.57 |
| 1984 | 2,100,000 | +11% | 135,000 | 15.56 |
| 1983 | 1,900,000 | +5.6% | 125,000 | 15.20 |
| 1982 | 1,800,000 | +6.5% | 115,000 | 15.65 |
| 1981 | 1,690,000 | +19% | 105,000 | 16.10 |
| 1980 | 1,425,000 | +1.8% | 95,000 | 15.00 |
| 1979 | 1,400,000 | 0.0% | 95,000 | 14.74 |
| 1978 | 1,400,000 | +3.7% | 97,000 | 14.43 |
| 1977 | 1,350,000 | +5.5% | 92,000 | 14.67 |
| 1976 | 1,280,000 | 0.0% | 87,000 | 14.71 |
| 1975 | 1,280,000 | −0.8% | 87,000 | 14.71 |
| 1974 | 1,290,000 | +0.8% | 87,000 | 14.83 |
| 1973 | 1,280,000 | +11% | 87,000 | 14.71 |
| 1972 | 1,150,000 | −5.7% | 80,000 | 14.38 |
| 1971 | 1,220,000 | +16% | 80,000 | 15.25 |
| 1970 | 1,055,000 | −30% | 70,000 | 15.07 |
| 1969 | 1,500,000 | +3.4% | 105,000 | 14.29 |
| 1968 | 1,450,000 | +3.6% | 105,000 | 13.81 |
| 1967 | 1,400,000 | +0.7% | 110,000 | 12.73 |
| 1966 | 1,390,000 | −4.1% | 110,000 | 12.64 |
| 1965 | 1,450,000 | +5.1% | 115,000 | 12.61 |
| 1964 | 1,380,000 | −11% | 115,000 | 12.00 |
| 1963 | 1,545,000 | −11% | 130,000 | 11.88 |
| 1962 | 1,730,000 | −23% | 150,000 | 11.53 |
| 1961 | 2,260,000 | — | 210,000 | 10.76 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 166,140 t USD 183 m
- Exporter rank
- 4 of 105
- Imports
- 79,989 t USD 11.3 m
- Importer rank
- 10 of 153
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 melons in China?
China produced 13.2 million t in 2024, 46.8% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does China rank in the world for production of melons?
China was the world’s largest producer in 2024, ahead of India.
How has the production of melons in China changed?
It rose by 20% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +7.3% for the world. The record was 13.5 million t in 2019.
What is the yield of melons in China?
35.0 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (13.2 million t from 377,305 ha), against a world average of 27.1 t/ha.
Does China export or import cantaloupes and other melons?
In 2024 China reported exports of 166,140 t (USD 183 m) and imports of 79,989 t (USD 11.3 m), 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.