By Abdullahi Lukman
China’s grain supply has remained stable despite global pressures from the strengthening El Niño phenomenon, geopolitical conflicts and rising fertiliser prices, a senior government official said on Monday.
Liu Huanxin, head of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, said China’s food security remained safeguarded by resilient grain production, substantial reserves and a strong processing industry.
Speaking at a State Council Information Office news conference, Liu said fluctuations in international grain markets had not significantly disrupted China’s domestic supply.
He said global factors affecting food production required close monitoring and proactive measures, particularly amid growing uncertainty over food security.
According to Liu, China’s annual grain production has remained above 650 million metric tonnes since 2015. Output exceeded 700 million tonnes for the first time in 2024 before rising to 715 million tonnes in 2025.
He added that per capita grain availability had surpassed 500 kilogrammes, above the global average.
Liu attributed the resilience of domestic production partly to policies supporting farmers and grain production, as well as China’s large geographical spread, which allows different regions to complement one another in food supply.
The official also highlighted China’s grain reserve system, which includes both government and commercial stockpiles. He said total grain inventories remained well above the international food security warning threshold of 17 to 18 per cent of annual consumption.
According to Liu, the reserves provide a mechanism for balancing supply and demand and stabilising the market during unusual fluctuations.
China’s grain-processing sector also plays a major role in maintaining food security, with about 24,000 processing enterprises operating across areas including grain, edible oil and animal feed.
Liu said the sector generates more than 4 trillion yuan ($597 billion) in annual industrial output, while processing capacity for staple products such as flour, rice and edible oil is sufficient to meet domestic consumption needs.
