Food Processing — Emissions in China

China: Food Processing — Emissions was 84,975 kt in 2023. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2023)
84,975 kt
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
3rd
of 112 countries
All-time high
163,660 kt
in 2011
All-time low
2,819 kt
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023

Food Processing — Emissions in China, 1990–2023

050.0k100.0k150.0k1990200620231990: 2.8k kt1991: 2.9k kt1992: 3.0k kt1993: 3.0k kt1994: 3.1k kt1995: 3.1k kt1996: 3.1k kt1997: 3.2k kt1998: 3.2k kt1999: 3.3k kt2000: 83.7k kt2001: 88.4k kt2002: 87.8k kt2003: 89.2k kt2004: 110.1k kt2005: 122.6k kt2006: 130.2k kt2007: 145.2k kt2008: 159.0k kt2009: 155.4k kt2010: 160.7k kt2011: 163.7k kt2012: 151.3k kt2013: 153.7k kt2014: 141.9k kt2015: 131.6k kt2016: 131.4k kt2017: 116.3k kt2018: 102.7k kt2019: 97.3k kt2020: 90.2k kt2021: 88.2k kt2022: 85.0k kt2023: 85.0k kt

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

Analysis

The most recent figure for food processing — emissions in China is 84,975 kt, measured in 2023.

The figure is down 44.7% over ten years.

Over the whole period, food processing — emissions in China peaked at 163,660 kt in 2011 and was at its lowest, 2,819 kt, in 1990.

China ranks 3rd of 112 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 Processing — Emissions in China, year by year

Annual values for Food Processing — Emissions (CO2) in China, 1990 to 2023.
Year kt Change
1990 2,819 kt —
1991 2,888 kt +2.4%
1992 2,994 kt +3.7%
1993 3,048 kt +1.8%
1994 3,076 kt +0.9%
1995 3,101 kt +0.8%
1996 3,136 kt +1.1%
1997 3,208 kt +2.3%
1998 3,187 kt -0.7%
1999 3,347 kt +5.0%
2000 83,667 kt +2400.0%
2001 88,362 kt +5.6%
2002 87,758 kt -0.7%
2003 89,168 kt +1.6%
2004 110,076 kt +23.4%
2005 122,606 kt +11.4%
2006 130,170 kt +6.2%
2007 145,238 kt +11.6%
2008 158,963 kt +9.5%
2009 155,399 kt -2.2%
2010 160,665 kt +3.4%
2011 163,660 kt +1.9%
2012 151,262 kt -7.6%
2013 153,710 kt +1.6%
2014 141,922 kt -7.7%
2015 131,627 kt -7.3%
2016 131,414 kt -0.2%
2017 116,347 kt -11.5%
2018 102,667 kt -11.8%
2019 97,333 kt -5.2%
2020 90,152 kt -7.4%
2021 88,233 kt -2.1%
2022 84,975 kt -3.7%
2023 84,975 kt +0.0%

China compared with similar countries

  • China's 84,975 kt is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1,108 kt, 76.7× the median. (29 countries reporting)
  • China's 84,975 kt is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5,481 kt, 15.5× the median. (10 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Food Processing — 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 +2400.0% 3,347 kt 83,667 kt

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 3,080 kt 2,819 kt 3,347 kt 10
2000s 117,141 kt 83,667 kt 158,963 kt 10
2010s 135,061 kt 97,333 kt 163,660 kt 10
2020s 87,084 kt 84,975 kt 90,152 kt 4

Countries ranked near China

  1. 1 OECD 257,009 kt compare
  2. 2 United States 106,272 kt compare
  3. 4 China, mainland 81,150 kt compare
  4. 5 Russian Federation 27,566 kt compare
  5. 5 Russia 27,566 kt compare

See the full ranking of 145 places →

More climate change data for China

All data for China →

Frequently asked questions

What is food processing — emissions in China?
Food processing — emissions in China was 84,975 kt in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
What is the highest food processing — emissions recorded in China?
The highest recorded value was 163,660 kt in 2011.
What is the lowest food processing — emissions recorded in China?
The lowest recorded value was 2,819 kt in 1990.
How does China rank for food processing — emissions?
China ranks 3rd out of 112 countries with data for 2023.
Is food processing — emissions rising or falling in China?
Over the last ten years it is down 44.7%. 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 Processing — Emissions (CO2). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Food Processing — 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-processing-emissions-co2-fao-tier-1/china/

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About this data

Indicator
Food Processing — Emissions (CO2)
Unit
kt
Source
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (FAO)
Coverage
145 places, 3,850 data points, 1990–2023
Last refreshed

The FAOSTAT domain on Emissions Totals summarizes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disseminated in the FAOSTAT Climate Change domains of emissions from agrifood 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). Emissions from other economic sectors as defined by the IPCC are also disseminated in the domain for completeness. Methodological details can be found at: https://files-faostat.fao.org/production/GT/GT_en.pdf