In 2024, China continued to be a net importer of fruits while maintaining a strong surplus in vegetable exports. Total fruit imports reached 7.69 million tons, up 2.17% from the previous year, with a total import value of USD 17.75 billion, marking a 5.25% increase.
High-end fruits led the growth in imports. China imported 451,000 tons of cherries in 2024, a 23% year-on-year increase, primarily sourced from Chile and Japan. Durian imports reached 1.56 million tons, up 9.4%, with Thailand and Malaysia as the main suppliers.
In contrast, China is the world's largest producer and consumer of vegetables, and it maintains a strong export position in this category. In 2024, China exported vegetables worth USD 18.66 billion while importing only USD 1.05 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of USD 17.61 billion.
However, China remains highly dependent on imports for vegetable seed supply, especially for certain high-end and specialty crops. The country relies almost entirely on imported seeds for vegetables like carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, and eggplants. For high-consumption crops such as carrots and spinach, the import dependency rate exceeds 90%.
While China has expanded its vegetable production capacity and exports, the seed sector highlights a structural vulnerability. Efforts to increase investment in agricultural technology and promote crop diversification are ongoing, but market and natural constraints continue to affect domestic seed development. This reliance on foreign seed varieties underscores ongoing challenges in strengthening self-sufficiency in the broader fruit and vegetable sector.
Source: eurasia review