In 2024, China exported a total of 2.8507 million tons of various fruit and vegetable canned products.

The canned food industry is a traditional export-oriented sector in China, and canned products are also important export items in the food industry. From well-known peach and orange canned products to mushroom and bamboo shoot cans, under the trend of "everything can be canned," China's fruit and vegetable canned food industry is developing towards high quality and diversification, driven by policy support, technological innovation, and market demand.

Recently, according to data from the China Canned Food Industry Association obtained by the China Food Exhibition, China exported canned fruit and vegetables to 195 countries and regions worldwide in 2024, with a cumulative export volume of 2.8507 million tons, basically on par with the previous year. Among them, the export volume of fruit canned products reached 792,700 tons, a year-on-year increase of 7.9%; while the export volume of vegetable canned products was 2.058 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 2.52%. Liu Youqian, chairman of the China Canned Food Industry Association, stated that in 2024, China's fruit and vegetable canned food industry faced a complex and changing market environment, cost pressures, and intricate international situations. However, the export volume of canned fruit and vegetable products remained at a historically high level. Overall, China's fruit and vegetable canned products maintain a very stable position in the international market and are not easily replaceable by other countries.

According to customs data, the total export value of China's fruit and vegetable canned products in 2024 was US$3.859 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 21.42%. Among them, the export value of fruit canned products was US$1.179 billion, with a slight year-on-year increase of 0.49%; while the export value of vegetable canned products was US$2.68 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 28.3%. In response to this, the China Canned Food Industry Association indicated that the price fluctuations of China's fruit and vegetable canned products in the international market are within the normal range. The price fluctuations are influenced by international market demand, production costs, and competition among domestic enterprises. In the long term, domestic canned food enterprises are continuously improving production efficiency and upgrading production equipment. As product quality and safety improve, the relative prices of China's fruit and vegetable canned products compared to similar international products are expected to rise with the improvement in quality.

With stable performance in the international market, China's domestic market for fruit and vegetable canned products is gradually moving towards healthy competition. Price is no longer the sole competitive factor. Instead, the focus is more on whether the products can meet consumers' personalized needs.

The China Canned Food Industry Association introduced that in terms of innovation, fruit and vegetable canned products are paying more attention to the aesthetics and easy-opening features of packaging. Small-sized bowls and cans have been well promoted within the industry. In terms of application scenarios, vegetable canned products, with their good storability and safety, are increasingly used in restaurant kitchens. The domestic market demand for canned products such as tomatoes, bamboo shoots, and corn is quite promising. In terms of brand building and marketing promotion, more and more enterprises are gradually expanding the market and enhancing brand awareness and reputation through the complementarity of various online and offline channels.

"In fact, competition among enterprises in the domestic market for fruit and vegetable canned products has always existed. However, in recent years, the phenomenon of pure price competition has faded. The industry has initiated a diversified competition model in terms of quality, packaging, marketing methods, taste, and content innovation," Liu Youqian said. As more and more enterprises adjust their product structures according to market demand and develop unique products, the industry has formed differentiated competition, avoiding pure price wars and making market competition more healthy. China's fruit and vegetable canned food industry is continuously innovating products with market orientation, striving to explore new productive forces in the industry, and aiming to achieve breakthroughs and transformation.

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Source: China Consumer Daily

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