Zhang Xiaoming at Qingdao Pulses Congress/
China’s shrinking bean crop points to rising import dependence

This keynote traced the decline in domestic production from its peak in the early 2000s, noting that beans have increasingly lost ground to other cash crops. In Northeast China, the main producing region, new policy support for competing crops could put further pressure on production, while changing weather patterns are adding uncertainty. He estimated 2026 output at around 55,000 tons for the main Northeast varieties, but stressed the difficulty of reaching a precise figure before the harvest is complete. Across other producing areas, including Yunnan, Hebei, Shanxi and the northwest, several varieties have also seen sharp production declines, while tight supply, uneven quality and volatile prices are adding to market uncertainty.

Looking ahead, Zhang expects China’s domestic bean resources to continue shrinking as other crops remain more competitive, while imports steadily increase to meet demand. He pointed to China’s large consumer base and changing dietary patterns as fundamental drivers of long-term demand, and urged international suppliers to maintain strict quality control and uphold contracts when serving the Chinese market.

View the complete keynote presentation