China: fresh fruit the only agrifood with higher imports in 2024

According to the comprehensive report and customs data, China's total imports of fresh and processed in 2024 reached 19.425 billion of US Dollars (US$), representing a year-on-year increase of 5.81%. The total value of fresh fruit imports was US$ 17.746 billion, up 5.25% from 2023. It represents a volume of shipments of 8.679 million tons, up 3.35% year-on-year; of which, the total volume of fresh fruit was 7.687 million tons, up 2.17%.

Durians and cherries up, other fruit down

Durians are the first imported fruit with an import value of US$ 6,99 billion and grew 4,1% in 2024, Cherries rank second in 2024 reaching US$ 3,69 billion USD and grew + 39.4% by value, with an imported volume was 451,000 tons; Banana rank third with US$ 907 million of imports, down 16.0% from 2023 and reached 1.6867 million tons, down 4.6% year-on-year. Imported bananas primarily came from the Philippines, Vietnam, and Ecuador, accounting for 79.2% of total imports.

+30% historical growth of China fruit exports

China's cumulative exports of fresh fruit was US$ 5,98 billion, an outstanding increase of + 20.16% by value in 2024. The exported volumes achieved 5,061 million tons, up 30.86% compared with 2023. The top ten countries/regions for China's fruit and fruit product exports were Vietnam, the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and the Philippines, collectively accounting for 74.74% of China's total shipments. The top five fruit categories are apples, grapes, citrus fruits (including mandarin oranges and Satsuma mandarins), pears, and oranges, accounting for 60.7% of China's total fruit imports.

US$ 112 billion of trade deficit with agrifood

According to customs statistics, from January to December 2024, China's total exports of agrifood products reached US$ 103.005 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.1%; imports reached US$ 215.155 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 7.9%; and the trade deficit stood at US$ 112.15 billion, narrowing by 16.7% compared to the same period last year.

Reversing trend

In December alone China's agricultural product exports amounted to US$ 10.54 billion, a year-on-year increase of 12.1%; imports reached 18.19 billion U.S. dollars, a year-on-year decrease of 12.1%; and the trade deficit stood at 7.65 billion U.S. dollars, narrowing by 32.3% compared to the same period last year.

Fish and Rice the main China exports

Cumulative exports of seafood products reached 4.17 million ton, up 12.6% year-on-year, with export value of US$ 20.14 billion, up 1.3% year-on-year. Cumulative exports of grains (rice mainly) reached 2.26 million tons, down 13.7% year-on-year, with export value of US$ 1.43 billion USD, down 18.9% year-on-year.

Grain and meat the main agrifood imports

Grains are the most imported produced by volume and value. Their import reached 157.526 million tons, down 2.3% year-on-year, with import value of US$ 69.02 billion, down 15.6% year-on-year. Among these, soybeans accounted for 105.032 million tons in cumulative import volume, up 6.5% year-on-year, with import value of US$ 52.75 billion, down 10.9% year-on-year. Cumulative imports of meat by China reached 6.666 million tons, down 9.7% year-on-year in 2025, with import value of US$ 23.38 billion, down 15.1% year-on-year. Dried fruits, nuts, and seeds imports reached 8.011 million tons, up 3.5% year-on-year, with import value of US$ 19.17 billion, up 8.6% year-on-year. Edible vegetable oils imports reached 7.162 million tons, down 26.8% year-on-year, with an import value of 7.42 billion USD, down 28.7% year-on-year. Picture: Pagoda - Sources: CCCFNA, General Administration of Customs of China Statistical Bulletin

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