China’s new-crop grain purchases exceed 100 mln tons

Purchases of China’s 2026 autumn grain harvest have exceeded 100 mln tons, reaching one of the highest levels recorded for the same period in recent years. According to China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration, the procurement campaign is progressing steadily, supported by active grain buyers and government measures aimed at supporting farmers. The main objective of these policies is to ensure that farmers can sell their new harvest at reasonable prices while limiting the negative impact of market fluctuations on agricultural incomes.

A key support mechanism remains the minimum purchase price policy for middle- and late-season rice. State-owned grain corporation Sinograin has introduced the measures in designated areas of six major grain-producing provinces: Hubei, Hunan, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Jiangxi. Government purchases are activated when market prices remain below the established minimum level for three consecutive days and are suspended once prices recover.

To facilitate grain deliveries, Sinograin has announced more than 140 purchasing locations with combined storage capacity exceeding 3.3 mln tons. Grain storage facilities are streamlining sampling, quality testing, weighing and unloading procedures. In particular, purchasing stations in parts of Henan Province operate from early morning until late evening to accelerate procurement during the peak harvest delivery period.

In addition to purchases under the minimum price mechanism, Chinese authorities are using grain reserve rotation to support the market. In Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei provinces, Sinograin is purchasing grain at prices slightly above prevailing market levels, encouraging greater participation by commercial buyers. This approach is intended to support the domestic market during the seasonal increase in supplies and reduce the risk of a sharp decline in farmgate grain prices.

Strong new-crop purchasing activity reflects substantial grain inflows into China’s domestic market and the important role of government intervention in maintaining stability. However, the figure exceeding 100 mln tons covers purchases by all enterprises in major grain-producing regions, not only state-owned buyers.

Tags: China, grain