Sorghum production in China
In 2024 China produced 3.1 million t of sorghum, the 8th largest in the world (4.78% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 6.4%. The record was 9.0 million t in 1966. Area harvested: 643,496 ha, yield 4.8 t/ha.
The 2024 figure is imputed by FAO.
- Production, 2024
- 3.1 million t
- World rank
- 8 of 107
- 10-year change
- +6.4%
- Record
- 9.0 million t
- 1966
Sorghum in China, 1961–2024 (tonnes)
China compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 4.8%
- 4.2% in 2014
- Yield, t/ha
- 4.8
- world 1.5 (+229%)
- kg per person
- 2.16
- world 7.87
- 10-year change
- +6.4%
- world −5.8%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Tonnes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Ethiopia | 4,100,000 | 6.4% |
| 7 | Brazil | 4,090,428 | 6.4% |
| 8 | China | 3,069,546 | 4.8% |
| 9 | Argentina | 2,495,532 | 3.9% |
| 10 | Australia | 2,441,091 | 3.8% |
Map of world production of sorghum
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 | 3,069,546 | +4.0% | 643,496 | 4.77 |
| 2023 | 2,950,785 | −4.6% | 631,065 | 4.68 |
| 2022 | 3,093,900 | −8.4% | 674,510 | 4.59 |
| 2021 | 3,377,200 | +14% | 713,160 | 4.74 |
| 2020 | 2,969,900 | −5.3% | 634,700 | 4.68 |
| 2019 | 3,137,000 | +7.8% | 640,400 | 4.90 |
| 2018 | 2,909,400 | +18% | 618,750 | 4.70 |
| 2017 | 2,464,900 | +26% | 506,460 | 4.87 |
| 2016 | 1,951,443 | −29% | 419,876 | 4.65 |
| 2015 | 2,752,000 | −4.6% | 574,000 | 4.79 |
| 2014 | 2,885,000 | −0.2% | 619,200 | 4.66 |
| 2013 | 2,891,500 | +13% | 582,340 | 4.97 |
| 2012 | 2,555,500 | +25% | 623,160 | 4.10 |
| 2011 | 2,050,900 | −16% | 500,210 | 4.10 |
| 2010 | 2,456,000 | +46% | 547,700 | 4.48 |
| 2009 | 1,676,600 | −8.7% | 559,370 | 3.00 |
| 2008 | 1,837,000 | −4.5% | 489,800 | 3.75 |
| 2007 | 1,924,000 | −26% | 500,000 | 3.85 |
| 2006 | 2,583,000 | +1.5% | 533,000 | 4.85 |
| 2005 | 2,546,000 | +9.4% | 570,000 | 4.47 |
| 2004 | 2,328,000 | −19% | 567,500 | 4.10 |
| 2003 | 2,862,000 | −14% | 722,000 | 3.96 |
| 2002 | 3,329,000 | +23% | 843,400 | 3.95 |
| 2001 | 2,696,000 | +4.4% | 782,800 | 3.44 |
| 2000 | 2,582,000 | −20% | 889,560 | 2.90 |
| 1999 | 3,241,000 | −21% | 979,000 | 3.31 |
| 1998 | 4,085,700 | +12% | 969,440 | 4.21 |
| 1997 | 3,638,000 | −36% | 1,083,900 | 3.36 |
| 1996 | 5,675,000 | +19% | 1,292,000 | 4.39 |
| 1995 | 4,756,000 | −25% | 1,215,000 | 3.91 |
| 1994 | 6,333,000 | +15% | 1,368,800 | 4.63 |
| 1993 | 5,510,000 | +18% | 1,342,000 | 4.11 |
| 1992 | 4,671,000 | −5.5% | 1,298,900 | 3.60 |
| 1991 | 4,943,000 | −13% | 1,387,733 | 3.56 |
| 1990 | 5,675,000 | +26% | 1,544,867 | 3.67 |
| 1989 | 4,500,000 | −20% | 1,629,533 | 2.76 |
| 1988 | 5,594,000 | +3.1% | 1,784,000 | 3.14 |
| 1987 | 5,428,000 | +0.8% | 1,864,000 | 2.91 |
| 1986 | 5,384,000 | −4.0% | 1,876,000 | 2.87 |
| 1985 | 5,609,000 | −27% | 1,946,000 | 2.88 |
| 1984 | 7,715,000 | −7.7% | 2,450,467 | 3.15 |
| 1983 | 8,355,000 | +20% | 2,706,933 | 3.09 |
| 1982 | 6,985,000 | +5.0% | 2,783,000 | 2.51 |
| 1981 | 6,650,000 | −1.8% | 2,610,000 | 2.55 |
| 1980 | 6,775,000 | −11% | 2,693,000 | 2.52 |
| 1979 | 7,650,000 | −5.0% | 3,172,000 | 2.41 |
| 1978 | 8,050,000 | +4.4% | 3,458,000 | 2.33 |
| 1977 | 7,710,000 | −11% | 3,760,000 | 2.05 |
| 1976 | 8,700,000 | +2.4% | 4,330,000 | 2.01 |
| 1975 | 8,500,000 | 0.0% | 4,500,000 | 1.89 |
| 1974 | 8,500,000 | −5.6% | 4,800,000 | 1.77 |
| 1973 | 9,000,000 | +13% | 5,000,000 | 1.80 |
| 1972 | 8,000,000 | −11% | 5,000,000 | 1.60 |
| 1971 | 9,000,000 | +2.3% | 5,200,000 | 1.73 |
| 1970 | 8,800,000 | +10% | 5,220,000 | 1.69 |
| 1969 | 8,000,000 | −5.9% | 5,800,000 | 1.38 |
| 1968 | 8,500,000 | −5.6% | 6,000,000 | 1.42 |
| 1967 | 9,000,000 | 0.0% | 6,500,000 | 1.38 |
| 1966 | 9,000,000 | +27% | 6,500,000 | 1.38 |
| 1965 | 7,100,000 | −7.8% | 6,150,000 | 1.15 |
| 1964 | 7,700,000 | +10% | 6,300,000 | 1.22 |
| 1963 | 7,000,000 | +15% | 6,500,000 | 1.08 |
| 1962 | 6,100,000 | −3.2% | 6,710,000 | 0.91 |
| 1961 | 6,300,000 | — | 6,800,000 | 0.93 |
Trade, 2024
- Exports
- 2,229 t USD 1.7 m
- Exporter rank
- 25 of 76
- Imports
- 8.7 million t USD 2.59 bn
- Importer rank
- 1 of 130
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 sorghum in China?
China produced 3.1 million t in 2024, 4.8% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does China rank in the world for production of sorghum?
China ranked 8th of 107 countries in 2024. The largest producer was United States with 13.6% of the world total.
How has the production of sorghum in China changed?
It rose by 6.4% between 2014 and 2024, compared with −5.8% for the world. The record was 9.0 million t in 1966.
What is the yield of sorghum in China?
4.8 tonnes per hectare in 2024 (3.1 million t from 643,496 ha), against a world average of 1.5 t/ha.
Does China export or import sorghum?
In 2024 China reported exports of 2,229 t (USD 1.7 m) and imports of 8.7 million t (USD 2.59 bn), 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 imputed 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.