According to Customs statistics, in the first three quarters of 2021, the total volume of food trade between China and Central and Eastern European countries (hereinafter referred to as CEECs) stood at RMB5.22 billion, up 2% year-on-year (similarity hereinafter). Of these, the food exports to CEECs were down by 8.6% to RMB2.56 billion, and imports were up by 14.7% to RMB2.66 billion.
The main features are as follows:
1. Aquatic products, vegetables, edible mushrooms and meat dominated the exports.
In the first three quarters of 2021, foods exports to CEECs decreased by 8.6% to RMB2.56 billion, accounting for 0.6% of the total exports to CEECs. Of these, aquatic products declined by 4.5% to RMB640 million; vegetables and edible mushrooms shrank by 14.6% to RMB210 million; meat (including meat offal) plunged by 20.6% to RMB210 million.
2. Dairy products, rapeseed and mustard oil, alcohol and other beverages dominated the imports.
In the first three quarters of 2021, food imports from CEECs increased by 14.7% to RMB 2.66 billion, making up 1.6% of the total imports to CEECs. Of these, dairy products grew by 27% to RMB1.11 billion; rape and mustard oil shot up by 94.8 times to RMB570 million; liquors and beverages fell by 16.5% to RMB260 million.
3. Poland, Czech and Bulgaria are the top three food trading partners.
In the first three quarters of 2021, the imports and exports of food with Poland, Czech and Bulgaria went down 1.4%, up 48.5% and down 27.3% respectively to RMB2.34 billion, RMB580 million and RMB400 million, accounting for 44.9%, 11.1% and 7.6% of the total food trade volume of between China and CEECs.
(The Chinese version shall prevail.)