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Legume Growing in China - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Jasmine Zhang Jasmine Zhang Beijing, China Last Updated: July 2025 0114

Revenue

$19.4bn

2025

$20.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

317k

Businesses

13,818

Wages

$X.Xbn

Legume Growing in China industry analysis

China is one of the world's major consumers of legumes. With the rapid development of China's economy, the dietary structure of residents has changed, and the demand for legume products is gradually increasing. Revenue for Legume Growing industry in China is expected to increase at an annualized rate of 1.9% over the five years through 2024, to $19.4 billion. In 2024, industry revenue is expected to increase by 1.6% year-on-year.
As legumes are not high-yielding crops and large quantities of competing imports have lowered domestic legume prices, many farmers have reduced their legume planting areas in favor of more profitable crops, like corn. Competing imports have increased at an annualized rate of 10.2% over the five years through 2024. Competing imports will account for 76.8% of total domestic demand in 2024.
Industry profit is expected to total 4.2% of revenue in 2024. Total wages are expected to rise by an annualized 3.3% over the five years through 2024, to $2.2 billion. Because of the low price and good quality of soybeans exported by the US, Brazil and other countries, the profit margin of the industry is difficult to improve under the pressure of external competition. The profit margin of the industry is very low, and the cost of wages is high due to the large need for labor in the industry.
To improve the concentration of the industry, the number of industry enterprises will rise in the next five years. The industry will gradually improve the overall technology with the support of the Government. The industry is greatly affected by climate change and natural disasters, and the company's operation can enhance the ability to resist risks, and the industry will continue to develop. Consumer demand for plant-based foods will increase in the future, which will boost the industry's revenue. Industry revenue is expected to increase an annualized 1.9% over the five years through 2029 to total $21.3 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • The Government support has promoted the development of the industry. A series of help from the Government in the technology and equipment has accelerated the development of the industry.
  • Soybeans are the most produced product in the industry. Soybean is a popular product in the market with wide application scenarios and large demand.
  • The business location is mainly distributed in areas suitable for the growing legumes. Climatic conditions in Heilongjiang province and Inner Mongolia are suitable for growing beans, and they are important production bases of beans in China.
  • Industry concentration has remained low. Due to the restrictions of China's land system, it is difficult for the industry to develop in scale.
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $19.4bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

The Government support has boosted the industry's scale

  • The Government has introduced a series of policies to increase the self-sufficiency rate of beans, especially soybeans, including subsidies for farmers to grow soybeans, providing technical support, and strengthening the construction of infrastructure for legume growing.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Legume Growing in China
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Demand from downstream markets will boost the industry revenue

  • With the increasing demand for healthy eating, consumers need more nutritious products. Soybeans are rich in protein and a variety of amino acids, which have great benefits for people's health.

Biggest companies in the Legume Growing in China

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Heilongjiang Agriculture Company Limited
23.1

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Legume Growing in China
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Beans, Peas and Other legumes. Beans is the largest segment of the Legume Growing in China.

Trends and Insights

Soybeans are the largest product segment of the industry

  • Beans include soybeans, black beans and green beans. Soybeans are one of the most common varieties of soybeans and are yellow or hazel in color.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Legume Growing industry in China grows soybeans, peas, green beans and other types of legumes.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Legume Growing industry in China include Beans, Peas and Other legumes.

Companies

Companies covered in the Legume Growing industry in China include Heilongjiang Agriculture Company Limited.

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Legume Growing industry in China include yield, pesticide, genetically modified and mu.

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The Government support has promoted the development of the industry. A series of help from the Government in the technology and equipment has accelerated the development of t...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Soybeans are the most produced product in the industry. Soybean is a popular product in the market with wide application scenarios and large demand.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The business location is mainly distributed in areas suitable for the growing legumes. Climatic conditions in Heilongjiang province and Inner Mongolia are suitable for growin...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Industry concentration has remained low. Due to the restrictions of China's land system, it is difficult for the industry to develop in scale.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

There are very few major players in the industry. The industry has many small enterprises, and the market share of the main participants is less than 1.0%.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Heilongjiang Agriculture Company Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Heilongjiang Agriculture Company Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Government provides many supports for the industry. Through subsidies, tax exemptions and other methods, the Government helps industry participants reduce the burden.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The profit margin of the industry is difficult to improve due to the influence of external environment. The price advantage brought by competing imports has gradually reduced...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Legume Growing industry in China in 2025?

The market size of the Legume Growing industry in China is $19.4bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Legume Growing industry in China in 2025?

There are 13,818 businesses in the Legume Growing industry in China, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Legume Growing industry in China?

The Legume Growing industry in China is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Legume Growing industry in China?

The Legume Growing industry in China is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Legume Growing industry in China grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Legume Growing industry in China has been growing at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Legume Growing industry in China over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Legume Growing industry in China is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Legume Growing industry in China?

The biggest company operating in the Legume Growing industry in China is Heilongjiang Agriculture Company Limited

What does the Legume Growing industry in China include?

Beans and Peas are part of the Legume Growing industry in China.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Legume Growing industry in China?

The company holding the most market share in the Legume Growing industry in China is Heilongjiang Agriculture Company Limited.

How competitive is the Legume Growing industry in China?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Legume Growing industry in China.

Methodology

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IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in China include:

  • National Bureau of Statistics China
  • General Administration of Customs
  • People’s Bank of China

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

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