Browse Data and Analysis

Estimated cotton imports for marketing year (MY) 22/23 are reduced to 1.4 million metric tons (MMT) on high carry-in stocks, higher domestic production, weak consumption, and uncertainty concerning the issuance of additional import quota. Consumption is reduced to 7.7 MMT in both MY 21/22 and MY 22/23 on restrictive zero-COVID polices and slower economic growth that has resulted in lower demand for textile and apparel products.

On December 2, 2022, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published a notice for public comment on 173 products from the European Union (EU) that are applying for protection as geographic indicator (GI) products.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recently amended the existing Administrative Measures for Organic Product Certification which was enforced on April 1, 2014.

On November 14, 2022, China notified a revised draft for the “National Standard of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Cotton—Saw Ginned Upland Cotton” to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. The PRC requested WTO members submit comments in 60 days. This standard will replace GB 1103.1 - 2012 Cotton - Part 1: Saw Ginned Upland Cotton.

Marketing year (MY) 2022/23 China's frozen French fry (FFF) exports are estimated at 84,000 metric tons (MT), approximately 12 percent higher than the previous year.

On November 28, 2022, the State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) extended the Section 301 retaliatory tariff exclusions on 11 agricultural products, including shrimp for cultivation, whey for feed, fishmeal for feed, alfalfa, and six hardwood products. TC.

The “Discover U.S. Baking Ingredients and Trends” hybrid virtual promotion was ATO Beijing’s first baking ingredients activity since the outbreak of COVID-19 in early 2020. The purposes of this activity were to raise bakers’ awareness of the nutrition, health benefits, taste, and versatility of U.S. baking ingredients and to increase exports to China.

The People's Republic of China (PRC) is preparing for commercial cultivation of domestically developed genetically engineered (GE) crops.

On November 21, 2022, the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China (MARA) released the People's Republic of China Plant Variety Protection Regulations (Revised Draft for Comments) (Chinese) for public comment.

On September 29, China notified the draft National Food Safety Standard on Food Additive Morpholine Fatty Acid Salt Fruit Wax to the WTO SPS Committee as G/SPS/N/CHN/1251, which intends to replace the existing National Food Safety Standard of the same title issued on August 31, 2016 (GB1886.227-2016).

In 2023, dairy product imports are forecast to remain near 2022 levels but a number of factors, including high global dairy prices, increased domestic production, and a weak economic outlook could weigh heavily on trade. Raw milk production in 2023 is expected to reach nearly 41.7 million metric tons (MMT).

China’s avocado production and imports are estimated to grow as the demand for high-quality fresh avocados continue to rise. Top consumers are females, under 35 years of age, and residing in first-tier cities.