Market leading Golden State food and wine exhibitors at HK Food Expo 2016,
11-13 August 2016
Hong Kong – The State of California’s food producers and processors are banking on increased exports to China buoyed by Chinese consumers demanding ready-to-eat, healthy, quick serve food options. Agricultural exports from the U.S. to China have grown by over 200 percent in the last ten years with China the second largest international market in 2015 valued at US$20.2 billion.
Along with soybeans, coarse grains, distillers’ grains, hides and skins, and cotton, fresh produce and other high-value food products are registering strong demand in China. Consumers’ diets are changing as their income grows presenting the California’s thriving food and wine producers and manufactures multiple opportunities.
According to Jeff Williamson, Director, California State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP):
“Golden State plough-to-plate quality producers are benefitting from a consumer taste shift to healthier diets and foods that have high nutritional value. As an example, organic foods represent one of the fastest growing food categories in the United States. The switch to healthier eating and eco-friendly foods is also taking place in China where consumers are demanding, and willing to pay for, high quality, healthier foods.”
The tree nut market is a business segment that China looks to Californian producers to satisfy increasing demand and the Chinese are big eaters of pistachios, almonds, pecans, and macadamia nuts. According to projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Californian almond crop this year is set be a record breaker with a project 7.9 percent increase compared to 2015.
“China and Hong Kong are the largest markets for almond producers as they are a popular snack but also because they are seen to have health benefits. In fact, last year, Hong Kong was the largest tree nuts export market for U.S. producers due to local demand and re-export regionally,” added Williamson.
The Chinese diet transition to healthier foods is driven by a growing disposable spending power, and a big appetite for fresh, safe and wholesome produce. This presents a perfect opportunity for California’s food and drink producers. In Hong Kong, demand is mainly driven by the restaurant and hospitality industry, and transshipments into China and parts of Southeast Asia.
According to U.S. Department of Commerce statistics, in 2015, California food, agricultural and beverage exports to Mainland China totalled US$1.48 billion and, to Hong Kong US$1.38 billion. California exports to Hong Kong and China combined, at US$2.8 billion is the second largest export market behind Canada.
At this year’s Hong Kong Food Expo will showcase food and drinks producers from California including fresh strawberries, brown rice, organic superfoods and supplements, and wine products.
About California STEP
The California State Trade and Export Promotion (California STEP) project leverages a statewide network of state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to facilitate export promotion, activities, serving targeted industries, to drive exports for small businesses.
Managed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Centers for International Trade Development (CITD), the network of STEP Partners implement a range of export promotion programs (over 50 trade missions since 2012) serving multiple sectors, including: Information & Telecommunications Technologies, Green Technologies, Food and Agricultural Products, California Lifestyle Products, Water Technologies, Scientific Instrumentation, Transportation Equipment and Industrial Machinery.
中國在食品及飲料口味的轉變為加州生產商帶來好的預兆
領先市場的美國加州食品及美酒生產商
於 2016 年 8 月 11 – 13 日舉行的香港美食博覽 2016 中參展
香港 – 加州食品生產商及加工商受到中國消費者對即食、健康及方便的食品選擇需求的增長而增加出口。由美國出口到中國的農業產品在過去十年增長超過兩倍，致使中國成為其第二大國際市場，估計總值於 2015 年達到 202 億美元。
除了大豆、粗糧、酒糟、動物皮革以及棉花外，新鮮的產品和其他高營養價值的產品正在中國錄得強勁需求。消費者的飲食習慣隨著收入增長而正在改變，並為加州蓬勃發展的食品和美酒生產商和製造商帶來各種機會。
美國加州貿易及出口推廣計劃 (California State Trade and Export Promotion, STEP) 總監 Jeff Williamson 表示：
「加州優質的生產商受惠於消費者口味轉向更健康的飲食和營養價值豐富的食物。舉例說，有機食品為美國增長最快的食品類別之一。人們轉換到更健康的飲食和對環境友善的食物的現象亦正在中國發生，中國的消費者渴求高品質及更健康的食品，並願意為之支付更多。」
堅果市場是中國為滿足國內增長需求而要向加州生產商入口的一個市場類別。中國是開心果、杏仁、核桃和夏威夷果仁的重大消耗國。據美國農業部預測，加州杏仁今年的收成相對去年會有破紀錄的 7.9% 增幅。
Williamson 補充︰「中國內地和香港都是杏仁生產商的最大市場，不單是因為杏仁在這些市場上是受歡迎的零食，更因為杏仁在這些地方被視為健康食品。事實上，香港在去年就成為了美國生產商的堅果最大出口市場，主因是香港本地需求甚切，以及在區域內進行轉口貿易。」
由於中國的可支配收入不斷增長，並對新鮮、安全及健康食品有巨大需求，中國的飲食習慣亦漸轉向重視健康食品。這種背景為加州食品和飲品生產商帶來一個巨大的機遇。在香港，需求主要由餐廳、旅遊業界及向中國內地及東南亞部分地區的轉運所帶動的。
美國商務部數據指出，在 2015 年加州向中國內地出口的食品、農產品及飲品總額達 14.8 億美元，同類產品向香港出口額達 13.8 億美元。加州向香港及中國內地出口總數達 28 億美元，使之成為加拿大以外的最大出口市場。
今年的香港美食博覽將會由加州的食品及飲品生產商展示新鮮士多啤梨、糙米、有機超級食物和保健品，以及酒類製品等。
關於美國加州貿易及出口推廣計劃
美國加州貿易及出口推廣計劃 (California STEP) 藉著建立遍佈美國及各州的私人與非牟利貿易推廣機構的網絡，促進出口推廣活動，增加小型企業的出口量。
作為美國加州貿易及出口推廣計劃的合作伙伴，加州社區大學校長辦公室的國際貿易發展中心 (CITD) 舉辦了一系列出口推廣計劃 (於 2012 年間舉辦了超過 50 個貿易代表團)，為不同界別服務，包括資訊及通訊科技、綠色環保科技、食品及農產品、加州休閒產品、水技術、科學測試設備、交通運輸設備及工業用機器。
