Chinese officials have affirmed that the country’s national grain reserves remain robust and capable of mitigating risks posed by the El Nino weather pattern and disruptions in global supply chains. This reassurance comes amid heightened concerns about global food security as unpredictable climate factors and geopolitical tensions impact food markets worldwide.
Li Chao, a representative from the National Development and Reform Commission, stated on Tuesday that China possesses a “solid foundation and sufficient capacity” to manage challenges such as El Nino. His remarks followed comments earlier in the week by Liu Huanxin, head of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, who highlighted the stability of China’s domestic grain market despite global volatility.
Liu detailed the country’s multi-tiered grain reserve system, which integrates central and local government stockpiles alongside private-sector inventories. He emphasized that China’s grain stock-to-consumption ratio remains well above the 17 to 18 percent benchmark advised by international organizations. This margin, Liu said, provides the government with ample flexibility to balance supply and demand fluctuations and stabilize markets during periods of unexpected disruptions.
On the production front, Liu noted that grain output has maintained steady growth, with annual production reaching 715 million tonnes in 2025. He pointed out that per capita grain availability in China now exceeds 500 kilograms, surpassing the global average. He attributed part of this resilience to China’s vast geographical diversity, which allows different regions to offset local production variances.
The National Bureau of Statistics reported that China’s summer grain harvest exceeded 150 million tonnes for the first time in 2026, underscoring the country’s strong agricultural performance this year.
These statements come against a challenging international backdrop. The World Meteorological Organization recently confirmed that El Nino is “firmly established” and projected it would intensify over coming months, raising the risk of disruptions to weather patterns globally. At the same time, geopolitical tensions, particularly involving the US, Israel, and Iran, have complicated supply chains for agricultural commodities and fertilizers. These factors contributed to a rise in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s global food price index in August, following a three-year peak in July.
Liu also reassured that China’s food processing sector has sufficient capacity to produce staple foods including flour, rice, and cooking oil to satisfy domestic demand. He stressed the importance of ongoing vigilance and adaptability in maintaining food security, calling for continuous monitoring and proactive measures.
China has consistently prioritized agricultural self-sufficiency, with government directives emphasizing the need to “keep its rice bowl firmly in its own hands.” As part of this strategy, Beijing aims to increase its comprehensive grain production capacity to approximately 725 million tonnes by 2030, reinforcing the country’s long-term goal of securing stable food supplies amid a complex global environment.