China stands as one of the world's foremost importers of food, welcoming a constant influx of diverse food products from all over the world at its bustling ports. However, despite its status as a massive and lucrative market for global food industry players, there are several formidable barriers present in China's food market. Notably, one of the key challenges faced by imported food is the risk of rejection during customs clearances. In 2023, a significant number of imported food products were rejected in China for various reasons. This comprehensive report endeavors to provide a panoramic view of the rejected food products, elucidate the reasons behind their rejections, and share insightful tips for stakeholders to mitigate potential risks and pitfalls.
As per the latest statistics released by the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), the aggregated value of food product imports in China witnessed a steady growth from January to December 2023, amounting to an impressive 1,462.98 billion yuan. This figure represents a 6.1% upswing compared to the previous year, underlining a consistent and robust growth trajectory in China's food import sector.
China Food Import Value in 2023Based on the data of imported food rejections by China customs, it is noteworthy that from January to December 2023, a total of 2,358 batches of imported food products failed to pass customs clearance. This figure demonstrates a significant decline of 16.4% compared to the previous year's 2,820 batches, revealing a positive trend: although the scale of food imports continues to expand, the number of rejected food products entering the country is decreasing.
China Food Import Rejections in 2023
In 2023, rejected imported food products originated from 79 countries/regions. Notably, Japan accounted for the largest share of rejected foods, comprising 18.2% of all rejected batches. The majority of Japan's rejected food products were predominantly snacks, beverages, and grain products. Following Japan, the United States accounted for 9.5% of the rejected batches, primarily consisting of meat and health supplement products. Vietnam contributed 6.3% of the rejected batches, with aquatic products and grain products being the main categories. Taiwan, China, accounted for 6.2% of the rejected batches, mainly comprising snacks and grain products. Lastly, Indonesia accounted for 5.8% of the rejected batches, primarily consisting of aquatic products.
Top 10 Exporters with the Most Rejected Food Batches in 2023To access more contents covered in this report, please click the download button at the end of this article.
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