In February 2007, China agricultural products exports reached USD 2.71 billion, USD 0.37 billion less than that of the previous month but USD 1.06 billion or 63.7% more than that in the same period of 2006. During Jan-Feb 2007, China totally exported agricultural products valued at USD 5.82 billion, increasing by 39.8% from the same period of 2006.

In February 2007, China agricultural products imports reached USD 2.01 billion, USD 0.67 billion less than that of the previous month but USD 100 million or 5.4% more than that in February of 2006. During Jan-Feb 2007, China totally imported agricultural products valued at USD 4.7 billion, growing 10.2% from the same period of 2006.

Before September 2006, deficit was mainly seen in China’s agricultural product import and export trade although there were also several months of low surplus. After September 2006 (till February 2007), surplus predominated China’s agricultural product import and export trade. The surplus in November 2006 was even close to USD 900 million and around USD 700 million in February 2007.

Compared with the same period of 2006, during Jan-Feb 2007, the absolute majority of the agricultural products were seen growth to different extent. Milling products, cocoa and its precuts, leavings and scrap of the food industry and animal feedstuff made from them as well as products made from marine lives enjoyed the highest year-on-year growth rate in export value. As to year-on-year growth rate in import value, the top several products included meat products, living plants and flowers, products made from marine lives as well as animal and plant grease and products decomposed from them. In terms of import, minus growth was only found in tobacco and tobacco-made products; in terms of export, minus growth was seen in several products, with tobacco and tobacco-made products and living animals suffering the biggest drop.

China mainly exports to Asia and Europe, with total export value at USD 3,475 million and USD 1,114 million respectively during Jan-Feb 2007. Meanwhile, China mainly imports from North America and Asia, with the total import value at USD 1,545 million and USD 1,407 million respectively during Jan-Feb 2007.

China’s agricultural products import and export trade form mainly include general trade, processing trade, and small-scale border trade, barter trade and so on. General trade generates the most import and export value while barter trade sees a fastest growth in both import and export value.

During the January-February period of 2007, Shandong, Guangdong and Liaoning exported the most agricultural products, of which Shandong achieved an export value of as high as USD 1,415 million, two times more than that of Guangdong next to it. Guangdong, Shandong and Jiangsu were the largest agricultural products importers in China.