China posts bigger farm trade deficit in 2011

China boosted imports of agricultural products last year, with the farm trade deficit rising 47.4% from 2010 as the country’s own production fell short of demand in the world’s second-largest economy.

China imported $94.87 billion worth of farm products in the whole year of 2011, with a trade deficit of $34.12 billion, the agriculture ministry said.

Imports of grains, cotton, sugar as well as livestock products all increased.

China’s rising demand after the country’s move to urbanisation coupled with limited farmland could prompt the country to become the world’s largest importer of farm products in coming years, a government researcher said.

China posted a surplus in trade of vegetables and fruits in 2011 as compared with 2010, said the ministry.