China has significantly increased the import of agricultural products in the first 6 months of the year. In total, more than €91 billion worth of food and raw materials was imported.
Both the import volumes and the prices that had to be paid increased on average. The total import value was 33% higher than a year earlier, although it should be noted that the import flow in the first half of 2020 suffered considerably from the nascent corona pandemic. The driving force behind the rising figures was the import of soy, according to figures from Zollstatistik.
Restore pig stock
The expanding Chinese pig population is causing soy imports to rise sharply. The volume increased 9% to 49 million tons. A total of €21,6 billion worth of soy products is crossed over the border. The import of grains and flour increased by 169% to a volume of almost 34 million tons. The import of maize quadrupled in the first half of 2021 compared to the first half of 2020 and amounted to a volume of more than 15 million tons.
Animal proteins also grow
The total volume of meat imported by China for the first six months of 2021 is 7% higher than the same period last year. These imports represented a value of more than €14 billion and a volume of more than 5 million tons. Record volumes were imported in the first months of this year. In recent months, however, China's import needs have been falling and meat imports in June were already 17% lower than in June 2020.
There was also a sharp increase in imports for dairy products. The total shipped volume increased by about a third to 2,17 million tons. Milk powders accounted for a 20% increase. 900.000 tons of this product were imported in the first half of the year. The total value of dairy imports rose by 15% to €6,1 billion.
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