A shopper looks for imported food products at a Walmart shop in Beijing. (Photo : Reuters)
Authorities have noted an increase in consumption of food and agricultural products from overseas as the General Administration of Customs has reported the rise in import of food products in 2014.
The China Daily reported that China has imported at least 283,000 tons of lamb meat and 320,000 metric tons of fresh milk last year, an increase of 9.3 percent and 73.5, respectively.
The report also noted a rise in the import of soybeans that reached 71.4 million tons and wine at 383 million liters; these products had an increase of 12.7 percent and 1.6 percent, respectively, compared to last year's record.
The data also showed that fruit imports hit $9.19 billion last year, an increase of 6.3 percent based on a year-on-year record.
The report said that the increase in the demand and consumption of imported food products may be attributed to the growing middleclass population who can afford these products.
The report quoted Ding Lixin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, as saying that the main beneficiaries of the boom in import of agricultural products are the international meat suppliers, wine producers and the foreign dairy product suppliers.
Ding said that China's consistent agricultural growth and the rising incomes have enabled many people access to more protein-rich foods that tastes better. Because of this, the quantity of grain imports rose, especial soybeans, sorghum, corn and rapeseed meal, which are used for livestock and aquatic industries.
Yu Bin, director of the department of macroeconomic research at the State Council Development Research Center, said that rapid urbanization and the increase in mobile population are major factors that have shifted the diets of the Chinese from grain-based meals to dairy and meat products.
