Food Packaging — Emissions in China

China: Food Packaging — Emissions was 129.59 kt in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
129.59 kt
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 120 countries
All-time high
161.18 kt
in 2011
All-time low
4.33 kt
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Food Packaging — Emissions in China, 1990–2023

0501001501990200620231990: 4.3 kt1991: 4.9 kt1992: 5.1 kt1993: 6.6 kt1994: 6.8 kt1995: 6.7 kt1996: 7 kt1997: 6.7 kt1998: 6.7 kt1999: 5.9 kt2000: 22.1 kt2001: 67.4 kt2002: 67 kt2003: 80 kt2004: 109.5 kt2005: 124.3 kt2006: 125.4 kt2007: 136.1 kt2008: 144.4 kt2009: 146.4 kt2010: 147.1 kt2011: 161.2 kt2012: 147 kt2013: 143.8 kt2014: 148.2 kt2015: 135.3 kt2016: 132.6 kt2017: 119 kt2018: 112.3 kt2019: 100.6 kt2020: 109.4 kt2021: 102 kt2022: 129.6 kt2023: 129.6 kt

Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Measured in kt.

Analysis

The most recent figure for food packaging — emissions in China is 129.59 kt, measured in 2023.

That represents a change of down 9.9% over ten years.

Over the whole period, food packaging — emissions in China peaked at 161.18 kt in 2011 and was at its lowest, 4.33 kt, in 1990.

China ranks 1st of 120 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Food Packaging — Emissions in China, year by year

Annual values for Food Packaging — Emissions (CH4) in China, 1990 to 2023.
Year kt Change
1990 4.33 kt —
1991 4.89 kt +12.9%
1992 5.07 kt +3.7%
1993 6.59 kt +30.0%
1994 6.79 kt +3.1%
1995 6.7 kt -1.3%
1996 6.98 kt +4.2%
1997 6.67 kt -4.6%
1998 6.74 kt +1.0%
1999 5.93 kt -12.0%
2000 22.07 kt +272.3%
2001 67.44 kt +205.6%
2002 66.99 kt -0.7%
2003 79.95 kt +19.4%
2004 109.51 kt +37.0%
2005 124.34 kt +13.5%
2006 125.4 kt +0.9%
2007 136.12 kt +8.5%
2008 144.45 kt +6.1%
2009 146.37 kt +1.3%
2010 147.05 kt +0.5%
2011 161.18 kt +9.6%
2012 146.98 kt -8.8%
2013 143.78 kt -2.2%
2014 148.22 kt +3.1%
2015 135.32 kt -8.7%
2016 132.6 kt -2.0%
2017 119.05 kt -10.2%
2018 112.29 kt -5.7%
2019 100.62 kt -10.4%
2020 109.39 kt +8.7%
2021 101.99 kt -6.8%
2022 129.59 kt +27.1%
2023 129.59 kt +0.0%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 129.59 kt is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 0.0056 kt, 23222.5× the median. (34 countries reporting)
  • China's 129.59 kt is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 0.0182 kt, 7117.8× the median. (12 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Food Packaging — Emissions in China changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.

YearChange FromTo
2000 +272.3% 5.93 kt 22.07 kt
2001 +205.6% 22.07 kt 67.44 kt

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 6.07 kt 4.33 kt 6.98 kt 10
2000s 102.26 kt 22.07 kt 146.37 kt 10
2010s 134.71 kt 100.62 kt 161.18 kt 10
2020s 117.64 kt 101.99 kt 129.59 kt 4

Countries ranked near China

  1. 2 China, mainland 127.53 kt compare
  2. 2 Viet Nam 1.48 kt compare
  3. 3 Türkiye 0.4494 kt compare
  4. 3 OECD 6.27 kt compare
  5. 4 Indonesia 3.42 kt compare

See the full ranking of 168 places →

More climate change data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is food packaging — emissions in China?
Food packaging — emissions in China was 129.59 kt in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest food packaging — emissions recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 161.18 kt in 2011.
What is the lowest food packaging — emissions recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 4.33 kt in 1990.
How does China rank for food packaging — emissions?
China ranks 1st out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
Is food packaging — emissions rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 9.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this China data come from?
The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published as part of Food Packaging — Emissions (CH4). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Food Packaging — Emissions in China. Statizoid, drawing on Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Retrieved 27 September 2026, from https://climate.statizoid.com/stat/food-packaging-emissions-ch4/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Food Packaging — Emissions (CH4)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
168 places, 5,039 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions from Pre- and post- agricultural production includes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and related activity data, generated from pre- and post-agriculture production stages of the agri-food systems. Data are computed following the Tier 1 methods of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines for National greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventories (IPCC, 1996; 1997; 2000; 2002; 2006; 2014). The domain includes methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and CO2 equivalent (CO2eq) emissions from the above activities as well as the aggregate fluorinated gases (F-gases) emissions. Estimates are available by country, with global coverage and are updated annually.The FAOSTAT domain disseminates information estimates of CH4, N2O, CO2 emissions, F-gases, their aggregates in CO2eq in units of kilotonnes (kt, or 10^6 kg), and the underlying activity data. CO2eq emissions are computed by using the IPCC Fifth Assessment report global warming potentials, AR5 (IPCC, 2014). Data are available for most countries and territories, for standard FAOSTAT regional aggregations, and for Annex I and non-Annex I country groups.