Agricultural raw materials imports in China
China: Agricultural raw materials imports was 2.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Agricultural raw materials imports in China, 1984–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
China recorded 2.7% for agricultural raw materials imports in 2024.
That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and down 25.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural raw materials imports in China peaked at 7.7% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 2.6%, in 2023.
China ranks 11th of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 37 years of available data.
Agricultural raw materials imports in China, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 7.7% | — |
| 1985 | 5.8% | -24.8% |
| 1986 | 5.0% | -13.9% |
| 1987 | 6.5% | +30.4% |
| 1992 | 4.9% | -25.2% |
| 1993 | 3.1% | -36.1% |
| 1994 | 4.4% | +41.3% |
| 1995 | 5.2% | +17.9% |
| 1996 | 5.1% | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 5.2% | +2.2% |
| 1998 | 4.2% | -19.3% |
| 1999 | 4.3% | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 4.8% | +11.8% |
| 2001 | 4.6% | -4.9% |
| 2002 | 4.3% | -6.9% |
| 2003 | 4.0% | -6.2% |
| 2004 | 4.0% | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 3.9% | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 4.0% | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 3.8% | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | -4.8% |
| 2010 | 3.8% | +10.7% |
| 2011 | 4.3% | +13.1% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | -7.6% |
| 2013 | 3.7% | -5.6% |
| 2014 | 3.6% | -4.1% |
| 2015 | 3.7% | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 3.8% | +2.0% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 3.6% | -9.2% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | -11.7% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 2.7% | -7.9% |
| 2022 | 2.7% | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 2.6% | -2.5% |
| 2024 | 2.7% | +1.2% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 2.7% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.1%, 2.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
- China's 2.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.9%, 2.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6.3% | 5.0% | 7.7% | 4 |
| 1990s | 4.6% | 3.1% | 5.2% | 8 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 3.4% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.7% | 3.2% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.7% | 2.6% | 2.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Rural population 33.7% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural raw materials imports in China?
- Agricultural raw materials imports in China was 2.7% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest agricultural raw materials imports recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 7.7% in 1984.
- What is the lowest agricultural raw materials imports recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.6% in 2023.
- How does China rank for agricultural raw materials imports?
- China ranks 11th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is agricultural raw materials imports rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Agricultural raw materials imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural raw materials comprise section 2 of SITC Rev. 3 (crude materials, inedible, except fuels) excluding divisions 22 (oil-seeds and oleaginous fruits), 27 (crude fertilizers and minerals excluding coal, petroleum, and precious stones), and 28 (metalliferous ores and scrap). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.