USDA: China planting seeds 2014

China’s hybrid corn and rice seed production and acreage declined in 2013 after several years of expansion as seed companies tried to work through excess stocks. Ending stocks are set to  exceed annual hybrid corn seed consumption in 2013, and reach 60 percent of hybrid rice seed  consumption. Despite decreased acreage, hybrid corn and rice production are forecast to exceed demand again in 2014, leading to record ending stocks. China’s seed imports declined 23 percent in MY2012/13, primarily due to a large decline of grass and sunflower seed imports. Grass seed imports in MY2013/14 are forecast to recover as the majority of stocks have been reduced. China’s seed exports declined 34 percent in MY 2012/13 due to a large decline in rice seed exports.

 

China is the second largest seed market in the world, annually using roughly 12.5 million tons of planting seed. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) estimates the seed market in 2012 at RMB104 billion ($17 billion), of which 65 percent is hybrid corn, hybrid rice, vegetable, and fruit seeds. 

 

China is self-sufficient in rice, corn, wheat, cotton, and soybean seeds, and produces 80 percent of the vegetable and fruit seeds it uses. Farmers are relying less on saved seeds and are instead using government subsidy programs to purchase higher quality commercial seeds.

 

China’s seed industry is highly fragmented and mostly dependent on public institutions for research and development. Inconsistent seed quality and minimal farmer servicing by seed companies has limited yield growth. Rising food demand and limited arable land in China have made this a pressing issue.

 

On January 19, 2014, China released a high-level policy document on agriculture that called for the development of the modern seed industry. This is expected to speed up ongoing efforts by the government to consolidate the seed industry and develop integrated companies with independent research and development capabilities. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that there were 5,200 seed companies as of May 2014, down from 8,700 companies in 2011.The government hopes to further reduce this number in the future.

 

China is currently revising its seed law as part of its effort to develop a stronger domestic seed industry. The draft law is expected to be published for public comment in fall 2014 and, if approved, enacted in 2015. The draft law will strengthen variety management and intellectual property protections for seeds. It also reportedly will increase restrictions and oversight over international seed companies as well as the transfer of germplasm internationally and within China.