China imported $3.45 billion of food in June 2026 alone. That is up 11.2% year-on-year. The country is the world’s second-largest food importer at $197 billion per year. And the fastest-growing origins right now are Vietnam, New Zealand, Germany, and France. If your brand is not in China yet, someone else’s is filling your shelf space.
Who Is Winning Right Now
- New Zealand: $273M/month in food exports to China, leading on dairy and meat
- United States: $264M/month, strong on nuts, fresh fruit, and specialty food
- Vietnam: $240M/month, fastest-growing origin in 2025-2026, strong on seafood and processed food
- France: $213M/month, dairy, wine, and premium ingredients
- Germany: fastest-growing European origin, driven by processed food and health products
- Source: Observatory of Economic Complexity, China trade data June 2026
What This Means for Brands Not Yet in China
A Belgian chocolate brand we worked with had been watching the China market for two years without moving. In Q1 2026, a competitor from the same city signed a Chinese distribution deal. The Belgian brand called us the next week. First distributor meeting: 3 weeks later. Signed agreement: 6 weeks after that. Waiting costs more than moving.
A German bakery ingredient brand tracked the surge in Chinese food manufacturing imports. They targeted Chinese food producers, not Chinese consumers. Their distributor supplies food factories in Guangdong and Shandong. B2B food distribution in China is a $40 billion market most foreign brands completely ignore.
An Australian health food brand entered via cross-border e-commerce first, then converted to bonded warehouse import when monthly volume crossed 500 orders. The +11.2% import growth meant their Chinese distributor was actively looking for new SKUs to fill retailer demand. Entry timing was perfect.
What Drives the 11% Growth and How Long It Lasts
- Chinese middle class expanding: more consumers able to buy imported premium food
- Domestic food safety concerns still driving trust premium for imported products
- Cross-border e-commerce (CBEC) reducing the cost and complexity of first entry
- Flavor innovation gap: Chinese food manufacturers sourcing unique ingredients abroad
- Plant-based and functional food demand outpacing local production capacity
For a detailed breakdown of China’s food import regulations and what foreign brands need to prepare, read this guide on importing food products into China on Marketing to China.
The Distributor’s View: Growth Numbers Do Not Pay Your Invoice
When import numbers go up, my phone rings more. Last spring a Danish dairy snack brand came to us after reading the same growth figures. They had already found a distributor in Guangzhou on their own. Good first order, 1,800 cartons. The second order came with a request: 120-day payment terms, and the brand would pay for the Tmall store operations.
This is a common pattern. Growth brings new distributors into imported food, and some of them finance their expansion with the brand’s money. We checked this one. They had three other foreign brands on the same terms and two of them had stopped shipping. We helped the brand move to a Shanghai distributor with a cold chain and real modern trade accounts, on 30% deposit and 60 days for the balance. Volume in year one was lower than promised by the first partner. It was also fully paid.
Before you quote a price, check what duty your HS code really pays: our note on China import duties in 2026 covers it.
“A growing market attracts good distributors and opportunists at the same time. I always ask one thing before a second order: how did you pay the last foreign brand you worked with?”
Jon Wang, Asia Pro Distribution, Shanghai
Other China guides from our team
See also how we find distributors in China.
We watch China food import volumes every quarter. The 11% growth is real and it is category-wide. Asia Pro Distribution connects food and beverage brands with Chinese distributors who are actively expanding their imported product portfolios. The distributors are ready. The question is whether your brand is. Contact us to discuss your China food entry.
