The last 10 years have been a period of volatility for wheat production and trade in
China. Production reached record levels in 1997, then fell by over 30 million metric
tons (mmt) by 2003. Imports reached a record level of 12.3 mmt in 1995, then dropped
off to less than 1 mmt per year since 1997. This report provides an overview of current
wheat production and consumption trends in China, including factors that contributed to
slumping imports in recent years. It projects that China will regain its status as a net
wheat importer, with imports rising sharply in the next year or two but then falling back
to modest levels after that.