China's agricultural trade value grew 1.4 percent year-on-year to $251.0 billion in the first nine months of 2023. Exports expanded by 0.4 percent to $72.2 billion. Imports increased by 1.8 percent to $178.8 billion. Trade deficit widened by 2.9 percent to $106.6 billion.  

The details are as follows:   

1. Cereals imports decreased by 8.2 percent to 40.3 million tons and exports also fell 26.9 percent to 1.3 million tons. Net imports dropped by 7.4 percent to 38.9 million tons.    

2. Cotton imports dropped by 25.2 percent to 1.2 million tons. Cotton yarn imports increased by 26.5 percent to 1.2 million tons.    

3. Sugar imports decreased by 39.7 percent to 2.1 million tons.    

4. Edible oilseeds imports increased by 19.3 percent to 84.9 million tons while exports decreased by 16.4 percent to 0.6 million tons.    

5. Edible vegetable oil imports increased by 77.6 percent to 7.4 million tons, while exports increased by 6.2 percent to 0.1 million tons.   

6. Vegetables exports grew by 10.9 percent to $13.7 billion and imports increased by 14.9 percent to $0.8 billion. Trade surplus widened by 10.7 percent to $129.0 billion.    

7. Fruits exports decreased by 2.0 percent to $4.6 billion while imports increased by 16.7 percent to $15.1 billion. Trade deficit widened by 27.4 percent to $10.5 billion.    

8. Livestock products imports decreased by 7.9 percent to $35.4 billion while exports fell 5.9 percent to $4.5 billion. Trade deficit shrank by 8.2 percent to $30.9 billion.    

9. Fisheries and aquaculture products exports decreased by 11.7 percent to $15.1 billion, and imports increased by 5.6 percent to $18.0 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.9 billion.