National Bureau of Statistics: China's early rice production will remain stable in 2026, and yield will be stable at more than 56 billion kg for 6 consecutive years

The Zhitong Finance App learned that on August 21, the National Bureau of Statistics issued an announcement on early rice production data for 2026, and China's early rice production will remain stable in 2026. According to the results of the actual sampling survey of early rice in 10 provinces (regions), the sown area of early rice has increased slightly across the country, and the yield has declined. Early rice production is 56.58 billion kg, which has stabilized at more than 56 billion kg for 6 consecutive years, and has remained stable overall. The area sown for early rice in the country is 4744.3 thousand hectares (71.64 million mu), an increase of 1.4 thousand hectares (22,000 mu) over 2025, a slight increase.

The original text is as follows:

Announcement of the National Bureau of Statistics on early rice production data in 2026

Based on the early rice sample survey results, it is estimated that the sown area, yield per unit area, and total yield of early rice in the country in 2026 are as follows:

The area sown for early rice in the country is 4744.3 thousand hectares (71.64 million mu), an increase of 1.4 thousand hectares (22,000 mu) over 2025, a slight increase.

The country's early rice yield per unit area is 5963.4 kg/ha (397.6 kg/mu), a decrease of 48.5 kg/ha (3.2 kg/mu) compared to 2025, a decrease of 0.8%.

The country's total production of early rice was 28.292 million tons (56.58 billion kg), a decrease of 222,000 tons (440 million kg) from 2025, a decrease of 0.8%.

National Bureau of Statistics

August 21, 2026

China's early rice production will remain stable in 2026

Wei Fenghua, director of the Rural Affairs Department of the National Bureau of Statistics, explains the production of early rice

Since this year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core, various departments in various regions have continued to do a good job in grain production, making efforts to overcome extreme weather effects such as heavy rainfall and typhoons, and early rice production has remained stable. According to the results of the actual sampling survey of early rice in 10 provinces (regions), the sown area of early rice has increased slightly across the country, and the yield has declined. Early rice production is 56.58 billion kg, which has stabilized at more than 56 billion kg for 6 consecutive years, and has remained stable overall.

1. Slightly increased sown area for early rice

In 2026, 71.64 million mu of early rice were planted nationwide, an increase of 22,000 mu over the previous year. By region, the planting area of Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hainan, and Guangxi increased by 120,000 mu, 65,000 mu, 34,000 mu, and 21,000 mu, respectively, by 6.3%, 0.4%, 2.0%, and 0.2%. Affected by planting structure adjustments, Anhui and Guangdong reduced the planting area by 100,000 mu and 67,000 mu, respectively, by 4.0% and 0.5%; in Hunan, the planting area was reduced by 50,000 mu, or 0.3%, due to damage to seedlings at low temperatures and low lighting during the planting period.

This year, the country continued to increase its support for grain production, implemented a number of policies to strengthen agriculture and benefit farmers, stabilize the minimum purchase price of early indica rice and agricultural land protection subsidies, increase crop rotation subsidies, and stabilize farmers' planting expectations. All regions are compacting responsibility for grain production at various levels, coordinating funds such as rewards from major grain-producing counties and green, high-quality and efficient actions to support early rice production, and strongly mobilizing farmers' enthusiasm for planting.

2. Early rice yield has declined

In 2026, the country's early rice yield is 397.6 kg/mu, a decrease of 3.2 kg/mu compared to the previous year, a decrease of 0.8%. By region, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Guangdong were affected by typhoon weather. Yield decreased by 9.4 kg/mu, 6.3 kg/mu, 3.9 kg/mu, 2.0 kg/mu, and 1.6 kg/mu, respectively, by 2.4%, 1.5%, 0.5%, and 0.4%. Due to the decline in production due to the disaster in the previous year, Hainan achieved restorative growth this year. The yield increased by 7.2 kg/mu, an increase of 1.8%; the yield in Anhui, Fujian, Hubei, and Yunnan all increased to varying degrees.

This year, various regions are stepping up efforts to increase large-scale yield of grain and oil crops, vigorously promoting technical measures such as plugging in machines, reasonable densification, and deep-side fertilization to promote an increase in the yield level of early rice. Since early rice was planted, most of the main production areas had a good match of light and water, and early rice grew well. During the peak season, major production areas such as Jiangnan and South China experienced continuous heavy precipitation. Early rice experienced “rain washing” in some regions, which affected pollination and fruiting. The emptiness rate increased, and the fruiting rate declined. During the ripe harvest period, major production areas such as South China were affected by multiple rounds of typhoons. Some low-lying farmland was flooded, and some plots of early rice fell, affecting early rice grouting and mature harvesting.

3. Early rice production declined steadily and slightly

In 2026, the country's early rice production will be 56.58 billion kg, a decrease of 440 million kg over the previous year, or 0.8%. By region, the four main production areas of Guangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, and Jiangxi were all affected by the typhoon. Early rice production decreased by 210 million kg, 110 million kg, 100 million kg, and 90 million kg, respectively, by 2.2%, 0.8%, 0.9%, and 0.7%. Among non-major production areas, early rice production in Zhejiang, Hainan, and Hubei increased slightly compared to the previous year, while production in Anhui and Yunnan decreased slightly. Although production of early rice declined slightly this year due to unfavorable weather, it remained stable at more than 56 billion kg for 6 consecutive years, and overall remained stable.

In 2026, China's summer grain production increased and early rice remained stable, laying a good foundation for a good harvest throughout the year and providing solid support for a good start to the “15th Five-Year Plan”.

This article was edited by “National Bureau of Statistics”; Zhitong Finance Editor: Chen Siyu.