China has the range of climates and soils favorable for the production of a diversity of high quality tropical, subtropical and temperate fruit, vegetables, and flowers suitable for domestic consumption and export.

Although China is the world’s largest producer and consumer of horticultural products, the present Chinese horticultural industry is relatively backward and is grossly inadequate to properly support neither inter-province trade nor export, particularly for perishable products.  The Chinese horticultural system lacks a critical mass in administrative, marketing, transportation and distribution infrastructures. Also lacking are advanced production, postharvest and processing technologies, and equipment, marketing skills and export development expertise.

Like other agriculture sectors, the horticultural industry in China is extraordinarily perplexing, characterized by a lack of proper linkage from production to consumption, and frequent government intervention in the composition of production, pricing and the marketing of its commodities. 

Many horticultural products such as fruits and export vegetables are high value and as a result, many Chinese farmers are diversifying from the production of traditional crops such as staple grains (e.g. rice, wheat and corn) to horticultural products.

Major fruits produced in China are apple, citrus, pear, melon, grape, banana, pineapple, lychee and longan, while the main vegetables produced are Chinese and European cabbages, tomato, Chinese radish, bean, capsicum, mushroom, asparagus, potato and onion.  China also has a diversity of unique flowers and plants suitable as cut flower, pot plant and other ornamental, landscaping and environmental protection purposes.

Due to the lack of equipment and advanced production, postharvest and processing technologies, post production losses of horticultural products in China is very high.  There are few reliable statistics on post production losses of horticultural produce in China.  A conservative estimate based on scant data available to the Chinese Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce and FAO, suggests that up to 1/3 of all horticultural commodities produced annually is lost before consumption.

Compared to developed countries such as Australia and US, China processes only a small proportion of its annual horticultural production and there is significant scope to expand the processing and marketing of high quality Chinese horticultural products for the domestic and export markets.
 

Major Business Opportunities
 

Keys Needed to Develop and Capture Business Opportunities in China

How AgrifoodAsia Can Help You

In view of the vast business potential in China, businesses worldwide are actively searching for ways and means to access China’s vast market.  However, while tremendous opportunities exist in the huge Chinese agrifood market, accessing and turning those opportunities into reality is not easy.

Unless you have a product or service that sells itself, having a quality product or service at a competitive price does not necessary translate into instant success in China. The average foreign organization or company would still be required to spend considerable financial and human

resources and years of time to build and acquire the China knowledge, business  structures, networks and skills necessary for success, before sustainable business can happen.

AgrifoodAsia can minimize your chance of disappointment and lost opportunities, and save you time, money and effort by providing you with our extensive China business structures, mechanisms, networks, expertise and experience, and equip you with the skills necessary for you to DO and MAKE business HAPPEN in China through our training program.

Please browse our Partner and Business Centres for more information on how we can work with you to make business happen for you.