For the past few decades, the amount of imported products from China to the United States has grown exponentially. Recent statistics show that the United States imported a total of $217.3 billion of various goods from China. This makes China as the second largest trade partner for the US.
In terms of food imports, China also leads the race. In 2006, the US Department of Agriculture stated that the nation imported from China at least $4.1 billion worth of seafood and agricultural products. It is indeed a dramatic increase from 1995 when the US only imported $800 million of the same goods.
Here are the top three food products that the US imports from China:
# 1 seafood (shrimps and catfish)
According to the 2007 US Census Bureau, the number one food product exported from China to the United States is seafood; particularly fish and shellfish. In the same year, the US imported more than $2.013 billion of seafood.
This number includes shrimps and catfish products, which are the two of the 10 most demanded and highly consumed seafood products in the country. This makes China the country's largest exporter of seafood as well as the second largest in terms of monetary value.
# 2 fruits and juices (apples)
The second most imported Chinese food products are fruits, fruit preparations and juices. This amounted to at least $816 million in 2007. And the highest demanded fruit juice from China is apple juice. According to USDA, more than 50% of imported apple juice in the US comes from China. The country annually produces 110,000 tons of apple juice but still imports at least 161,000 tons each year to satisfy its growing demand.
# 3 vegetables and preparations (garlic)
As the world's largest and leading garlic producer, China exports garlic and other vegetables to the US and other countries. Since the 1990's, China's exportation of vegetables has rapidly increased. In 2007, the US imported about $444 million worth of vegetables from China. Today, it is steadily and continually increasing due to high demand of year-round supply of garlic. Garlic is primarily used as condiment and food flavoring agent.
Other important food products that China supplies to the United States are listed below. They are ranked according to their worth value of importation to the US.
• Soft beverages, processed coffee- $276 million
• Feedstuff and food grains- $222 million
• Bakery and confectionary products- $173 million
• Tea, spices and preparations- $142 million
• Nuts and preparations - $99 million
• Meat products, poultry and edible animals- $98 million
• Nonagricultural foods and food additives- $85 million
Here are the top three food products that the US imports from China:
# 1 seafood (shrimps and catfish)
According to the 2007 US Census Bureau, the number one food product exported from China to the United States is seafood; particularly fish and shellfish. In the same year, the US imported more than $2.013 billion of seafood.
This number includes shrimps and catfish products, which are the two of the 10 most demanded and highly consumed seafood products in the country. This makes China the country's largest exporter of seafood as well as the second largest in terms of monetary value.
# 2 fruits and juices (apples)
The second most imported Chinese food products are fruits, fruit preparations and juices. This amounted to at least $816 million in 2007. And the highest demanded fruit juice from China is apple juice. According to USDA, more than 50% of imported apple juice in the US comes from China. The country annually produces 110,000 tons of apple juice but still imports at least 161,000 tons each year to satisfy its growing demand.
# 3 vegetables and preparations (garlic)
As the world's largest and leading garlic producer, China exports garlic and other vegetables to the US and other countries. Since the 1990's, China's exportation of vegetables has rapidly increased. In 2007, the US imported about $444 million worth of vegetables from China. Today, it is steadily and continually increasing due to high demand of year-round supply of garlic. Garlic is primarily used as condiment and food flavoring agent.
Other important food products that China supplies to the United States are listed below. They are ranked according to their worth value of importation to the US.
• Soft beverages, processed coffee- $276 million
• Feedstuff and food grains- $222 million
• Bakery and confectionary products- $173 million
• Tea, spices and preparations- $142 million
• Nuts and preparations - $99 million
• Meat products, poultry and edible animals- $98 million
• Nonagricultural foods and food additives- $85 million
