China has sharply reduced its wheat imports in 2024–25 to 3.5 million tonnes, down from 13.64 million last year, causing a projected 12% drop in global wheat trade—the steepest in decades. Canadian exports to China have also fallen, from 2.02 million to 570,500 tonnes, though overall Canadian wheat exports remain strong due to increased sales to other markets. Analysts suggest China is relying on domestic reserves and favourable harvests, but drought in key growing regions may boost future imports. The drop puts China well below its WTO wheat import quota, raising renewed concerns about its trade transparency and market access.
