Over Fifty Years’ Growth in China

1970s

Soon after the announcement of the Sino-US Joint Communiqué, Cargill began trading in China. We initially helped China export corn to countries and regions in need. The benefits of this arrangement included utilizing domestic storage, stabilizing market prices and safeguarding the incentives of farmers – which to an extent guaranteed a consistent food supply within the country. During the years of shortage, Cargill helped import agricultural products, such as wheat from North America and Australia, to meet China’s domestic demand.

1990s

In 1987, Cargill was one of the first foreign companies to begin investing in the agricultural product processing industry. The nineties saw an expansion into the agricultural processing industry and we became one of the few foreign companies
in this industry. This decade also saw the booming of China’s domestic economy which greatly facilitated the development of agriculture and food industries overall.

From 1992 to 2010, more than twenty business units expanded their footprint within the country. As we operate in all the locations in China adhering to international standards – global food safety standards being on the top of the list.

Cargill works closely with rural communities in China to help farmers increase their productivity and incomes. To achieve these goals, we initiated farmer training programs in 1992. At the same time, based on governmental policies and regulations, we leveraged resources in both global and domestic markets to secure a safe food supply.

The beginning of the 21st century

In 2010, Cargill initiated Cargill China 2020 Growth Aspirations, which focuses on growing together with China.

Due to its economic boom over the past decade, China has played an important role in global agriculture and in the food industry. Now, key trends including urbanization, a higher demand for bulk commodities, an increase in disposable income, and a stronger demand for processed food and protein products, are creating a rapid growth in the Chinese agriculture and food industries. Our businesses include grain and oilseed supply chain, animal nutrition, animal protein, food ingredients and systems, specialty and nutrition, finance and risk management, logistics, trading and etc.