SCIO press conference on China's economic performance in H1 2026

Cover News:

China's summer grain harvest increased this year despite adverse conditions, which was no small achievement. How did the agricultural and rural economy perform in the first half of the year? Thank you.

Mao Shengyong:

Thank you. Let me give you a brief introduction. In the first half of this year, all regions and departments thoroughly implemented the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council regarding work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Working toward agricultural and rural modernization, they sustained farm output and raised rural incomes. The agricultural and rural economy maintained sound growth. There were several notable features.

First, China has secured another bumper summer grain harvest. This year's summer grain production overcame adverse factors such as large-scale late sowing of winter wheat and heavy rainfall, achieving output increase and a bumper harvest. Summer grain output reached 301.49 billion jin, exceeding 300 billion jin for the first time, an increase of 2 billion jin compared with the previous year. Increased per-unit yields are the key to a bumper summer grain harvest. The yield per mu was 378.8 kg, an increase of 3.2 kg over the previous year.

Second, the supply of non-staple foods such as vegetables is bountiful. In the first half of the year, China's combined output of pork, beef, mutton and poultry increased by 2.07 million metric tons year on year, a growth of 4.3%. The pace of hog slaughter has slowed down. In the first half of the year, hog slaughter increased by 1.7% year on year, with the growth rate dropping by 1.1 percentage points compared with the first quarter. This is mainly because, in response to the continued decline in hog prices, the government has focused on intensifying the comprehensive regulation of production capacity, leading to an accelerated reduction in the breeding sow inventory. This has helped improve the supply-demand dynamics in the hog market, resulting in a recent recovery in hog prices. In addition, the supply of vegetables and fruits has maintained steady growth, ensuring that people have a relatively abundant and secure dining experience.

Third, the agri-business and rural economy have achieved stable and positive performance. In the first half of the year, China's total output value of farming, forestry, animal husbandry and fisheries increased by 3.9% year on year. Great prominence has been given to modern protected agriculture, driving a 6.7% year-on-year increase in rural fixed asset investment. In addition, the rural residents' income continued to increase faster than that of urban residents.

This year marks the start of the 15th Five-Year Plan and represents a key year for accelerating steps to build up China's strength in agriculture. We are also organizing and carrying out the fourth national agricultural census, a major survey of national conditions and strength, in accordance with the arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. This work is currently being carried out intensively. In the early stages, we conducted special pilot projects and comprehensive pilot projects, and improved the census plan. It is currently being submitted to the State Council's leading group for the agricultural census for approval. All related work has been actively advanced, and journalists and media friends have given it great attention and coverage. Through this agricultural census, we aim to obtain a general picture of agriculture, rural areas and farmers. The agricultural census is conducted every ten years to give a full picture of the new situations and changes that have emerged in China's agricultural production over the past decade, particularly technological advancements, optimized production models, emerging business forms, and the effectiveness of the Party Central Committee's policies on agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Through this agricultural census, we aim to promote the comprehensive application of agricultural remote sensing technology in agricultural output surveys, so as to better monitor the planting area and growth status of various crops. Through sound and effective statistics in the fields of agriculture, rural areas and farmers, we will provide solid statistical data support for advancing high-quality agricultural development and building up China's strength in agriculture. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

The last question, please.