China's grain supply has remained generally stable and its food security is reliably safeguarded despite a strengthening El Nino phenomenon, geopolitical conflicts and rising fertilizer prices that are adding uncertainty to global food security, a senior official said on Monday.
Liu Huanxin, head of the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, said the factors affecting global food production require close attention, scientific assessment and proactive responses.
Although international grain markets have experienced fluctuations to varying degrees, China's grain market has remained generally stable, Liu said at a news conference held by the State Council Information Office.
"China's food security is reliably safeguarded," Liu said, citing resilient grain production, a comprehensive reserve system and a strong food-processing industry.
China's grain production has become more resilient in recent years as policies supporting farmers have taken effect, while the country's vast territory allows different regions to complement each other in supplying grain, Liu said.
Annual grain output has remained above 650 million metric tons since 2015. It surpassed 700 million tons for the first time in 2024 and reached 715 million tons in 2025, Liu said. Grain availability surpassed 500 kilograms per capita, exceeding the global average.
China has also established a grain reserve system that includes both government and corporate stockpiles.
"Total grain inventories across the nation remain well above the international food security warning level of 17 to 18 percent of annual consumption," Liu said. The reserves can be used to balance supply and demand and stabilize the market if major disruptions cause abnormal fluctuations, he added.
The country's food-processing industry also provides an important buffer for food security, Liu said.
China has about 24,000 grain-processing enterprises covering a wide range of sectors, including flour, rice, edible oil and animal feed. The annual industrial output value of grain-processing enterprises exceeds 4 trillion yuan ($597 billion), he said.
Processing capacity for staple foods such as flour, rice and edible oil is sufficient to meet the consumption needs of the country's population, he added.
China is also strengthening its ability to maintain grain supplies during emergencies, with a nationwide system designed to ensure food remains available during climate-related events, natural disasters and other disruptions.
Qian Yi, deputy head of the administration, said China has established a four-level emergency grain response system covering the national, provincial, municipal and county levels.
Seven regional emergency grain security centers have been established nationwide. There are nearly 70,000 enterprises involved in emergency grain supplies and more than 60,000 emergency supply outlets, Qian said.
The country's daily capacity to process and supply grain and edible oils exceeds 1.8 million tons for each category. "One day's processing capacity is enough to feed the entire population for two days," he said.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), China will further improve emergency planning, grain reserves, monitoring and early warning systems, Qian said.
The measures include adjusting the amount and composition of finished grain and edible oil reserves according to local conditions, strengthening monitoring in disaster-prone and remote areas, and improving the ability to coordinate processing, storage, transportation, distribution and other resources during emergencies.
In 36 major cities, finished grain and edible oil reserves are maintained at levels sufficient to meet more than 15 days of urban market demand, Qian said.
Editor：Zhou Jinmiao
