
Total rice consumption in China MY 2011/12-2022/23
Rice as a staple food
In China, both rice and noodles are staple foods, but the consumption patterns depend on the region. Generally, rice is consumed more in the south while noodles are more popular in the north. Typically, rice is served plain to be eaten with other dishes, but there are also other variations of rice such as congees and fried rice, which can be also consumed on its own.
Regional importance of rice
Rice is a popular food throughout Asia, and many Asian countries are leading production as well as consumption levels worldwide. These include India, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Despite the consistently increasing domestic production of rice in China, the country was still the biggest rice importer in the whole world in 2021/2022, mainly from other Asian countries.