US nearly triples its fresh vegetable imports from China

The United States’ imports of fresh vegetables from China grew 185% in value to $214.3 million in the five years to 2013, a report by the US Department of Agriculture […]
Mon 22/06/2015
The United States’ imports of fresh vegetables from China grew 185% in value to $214.3 million in the five years to 2013, a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows.

The United States’ imports of fresh vegetables from China grew 185% in value to $214.3 million in the five years to 2013, a report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) shows.

Though off a much smaller base, the value of its its fresh fruit imports from China also grew over the same period, rising 61% to $21.8 million.

Meanwhile, in the opposite direction, the value of fresh fruit imports from the US by China rose 116%, to $119.5 million, and that for vegetables 719% to $3.84 million.

According to the report “China’s Growing Demand for Agricultural Imports”, China has overtaken Japan, Mexico, and Canada to become the leading export market for US agricultural products. Projections by the USDA and other sources anticipate continued growth in Chinese agricultural imports through 2023.

As for China’s agricultural exports, they are mainly labor-intensive, high-value (per unit of land) products that often require processing. US vegetable imports from China include garlic and mushrooms.

source: USDA