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China’s canned food industry sees rapid development

Published

3 years ago

April 4, 2023

By Li Jie

Canned food is absolutely nothing new. This traditional food processing industry is one of the earliest industries in China to be geared to international standards and market.

China has remained the world’s largest producer and exporter of canned food for years, selling the product to nearly 200 countries and regions.

As a matter of fact, canned food was once a symbol of high-end consumption when it just entered China. In 1950s, China’s canned food was exported for the first time. In the beginning, the country sold a small amount of canned fruits to foreign destinations, and later the variety and quantity expanded year by year. Today, about a quarter of the world’s canned food is produced in China.

The country accounts for 70 percent of the total exportation of canned asparagus in the world and is a global leader in the production of canned tomatoes. Besides, it is the only country in the world that produces canned braised pork and canned mud carp.

Last year, China exported nearly 3.13 million tons of canned food, with a value of $6.89 billion. Both numbers hit a record high in the recent six years.

“China enjoys rich resources. Its canned food production, which has a strong reputation for quality and a comparative advantage in price, is growing year by year. This has built a sound environment for the exportation of Chinese canned food,” said Liu Youqian, director general of the China Canned Food Industry Association.

Ningbo Today Food Co., Ltd. is a major tuna processing enterprise in east China’s Zhejiang province. Founded in 2000, the company has sold 85 percent of its products to overseas destinations in the past 20 years. Its annual exportation hits 700 million yuan ($101.79 million) to 800 million yuan.

“Our production is stable and there’s a huge market demand. We have developed fast in the past 10 years,” said Chen Yifang, chairman of the company.

Food processing companies have high dependence on raw materials. The development of China’s pelagic fishery has brought significant opportunities to such companies..

“Catching, shipping and unloading go before tuna processing. Boasting new equipment and freezing facilities, Chinese fishery vessels can better keep the freshness of raw materials and ensure the quality of processed products,” Chen told People’s Daily, adding that the industrial advantages, together with the advantages in logistics, infrastructure and price, have created a sound environment for the development of food processing enterprises.

Canned orange is a star product among Chinese exported canned food. Yiguan Food Co., Ltd. located in Taizhou, east China’s Zhejiang province is a time-honored player in the canned fruit industry. According to the general manager of the company Huang Hongge, the global annual exportation of canned orange stands at around 350,000 to 400,000 tons, over 250,000 tons come from China.

“Relying on the advantages in raw material and processing brought by the development of orange industry, Chinese canned orange manufacturers have stood out from their global peers,” Huang said.

Canned food processing is a typical labor-intensive industry that needs a huge amount of workforce and thus faces challenges from rising cost. Thanks to constant technological innovation, Chinese enterprises have gradually gained an edge in this regard.

“China had once introduced peeling machines from Spain. However, they didn’t work well as Chinese orange varieties are different from foreign ones. After more than a decade of cooperation with research institutes, we finally developed automatic peeling machines that suit Chinese oranges. In the recent couple of years, we have also improved automation in orange segmenting,” Huang told People’s Daily.

According to him, it took 90 days for 4,000 workers to produce 20,000 tons of canned oranges, but now 30,000 tons can be produced by only 2,000 workers within the same time period.

Automation and intelligent manufacturing are sweeping the canned food industry, said Liu, explaining that major products of the industry are now processed by automatic production lines, which not only improves efficiency for enterprises, but also expands production capacity and reduces labor cost.

What’s encouraging for canned food manufacturers is that the industry is embracing a long-awaited opportunity as ready-to-cook food gets trendy. Sterilization and sealing, two procedures of canned food processing, are of vital significance for the production of ready-to-cook food. Besides, canned food has been considered important by consumers as an emergency supply since COVID-19 broke out. More and more manufacturers have started making canned Chinese cuisines and canned healthy meals, and the packaging form of canned food has shifted to plastic and paper bags.

Ready-to-cook food enjoys broad prospects and a bright future in the international market, said Liu.

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Kwara: Ifelodun Travellers Transport System Revived

Published

9 hours ago

August 19, 2026

Our Reporter

As Council Signs MoU With P&A Contract Ltd

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Ifelodun local Government, under the leadership of Hadji Abdulrasheed Femi Yusuf, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with P & A Contract Limited for the construction of a modern motor park in Amoyo, as the Council moves to revive the Ifelodun Travellers transport system and improve transportation within the Local Government.

Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony at the Council s Contact Office in Amoyo, the Chairman explained that the decision to construct the motor park was driven by the need for Ifelodun Local Government to establish its own transport identity, intended to ease people’s transportation problem.

He recalled that residents travelling to and from Ifelodun had, over the years, relied on transport facilities at Offa Garage and Maraba in Ilorin, stressing the need to create a dedicated transport hub that would serve the people of the Local Government.

“At some point in the history of Ifelodun Local Government, we had Ifelodun Travellers, which does not exist anymore. I don’t think there is anything wrong with bringing that identity back to the limelight. Now, we want to add value to that identity,” the Chairman said.

He added that the Council was also working with relevant stakeholders to bring in 10 units of Korope buses, which would commence operations as soon as possible.

“We are working with the NURTW, Kwara State Chapter, for guidance and to ensure that the operation runs smoothly,” he added.

The Supervisory Councillor for Works and Infrastructure Development, Mrs. Kolo Rebecca, explained that the proposed park would feature several amenities, including a garage, warehouse, 100-unit shopping complex, parking spaces and general toilets.

She said the facilities were designed to boost economic activities, improve the image of the Local Government and provide a more convenient transportation system for residents.

According to her, the initiative is also in line with the efforts of the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to take governance and development directly to the grassroots.

The contractor, Mallam Jimoh Toheeb Abolore, assured the Local Government of the prompt execution of the project, promising that the construction would meet the required standards and contribute positively to the image and development of Ifelodun Local Government.

Those in attendance included the Vice Chairman, Hon. Nike Ajibola; Secretary to the Local Government, Dr. Kamil Akorede; DPM, Mallam Ayinde Salman; LGT, Mallam Usman Waheed; Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Chief Ademola Zubair; Head of Works, Engr. Awodi Muhammad; Land officer, Tola Kadir and other Special Assistants.

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Lawyer Demands Release of Detained Kano Blogger, Maryam Shehu

Published

1 day ago

August 18, 2026

Our Reporter

By Hassan Agboola

A lawyer and human rights activist, Hamza Nuhu Dantani, has called for the immediate release of Kano-based blogger, Maryam Shehu, who he said has been in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for almost 30 days.

Dantani, in a statement on Monday, said the prolonged detention of Shehu was becoming difficult to reconcile with the rule of law and provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly her fundamental right to personal liberty.
He questioned why Shehu should remain in detention for nearly 30 days, particularly over an offence he described as ordinarily bailable.

“How on earth can a person be detained for almost 30 days and counting, particularly in relation to an offence that is ordinarily bailable, without meaningful consideration of her liberty and constitutional rights?” he asked.
Dantani said the EFCC’s powers to investigate did not give the commission the right to detain a suspect indefinitely, punish her before trial or disregard her fundamental rights.

He also criticised the alleged practice of photographing persons in EFCC custody and publishing their images online while they remain presumed innocent.
Citing Section 36(5) of the Constitution, Dantani said the law guarantees the presumption of innocence until a suspect is proven guilty by a competent court.

He warned that publicly portraying suspects as criminals before trial could amount to subjecting them to public punishment and humiliation.
“The EFCC is a law-enforcement institution. It must therefore be the first institution to demonstrate obedience to law. It cannot demand respect for law from citizens while appearing to disregard constitutional safeguards itself,” he said.

Dantani urged the commission to either charge Shehu before a competent court if it has credible evidence against her or release her immediately
.
“We call on EFCC to respect the Constitution, respect presumption of innocence and respect fundamental right to personal liberty. Investigation is not conviction. Detention is not punishment. And an allegation is not guilt,” he said.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s Comment on Lionel Messi’s Tribute to His Dad Becomes Most-Liked Instagram Comment

Published

1 day ago

August 18, 2026

Our Reporter

By Fabian Apechihin

Cristiano Ronaldo’s heartfelt message to Lionel Messi following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, has reportedly become the most-liked comment in Instagram history.

Jorge Messi died on August 7 in Rosario, Argentina, aged 68. Five days later, Messi paid tribute to his late father in an emotional Instagram post featuring a photo of the pair.

In the post, Messi wrote, “Te amo, pa” — meaning “I love you, Dad” — alongside a lengthy tribute reflecting on his father’s influence and the pain of losing him.

Among the many reactions from fans, celebrities and fellow footballers was a message from Ronaldo.

“Un abrazo enorme para ti y los tuyos en estos duros momentos, Leo. Mucha fuerza,” Ronaldo wrote, which translates to: “A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo. Much strength.”

Ronaldo’s comment reportedly attracted more than 6.86 million likes and over 86,000 comments, making it the most-liked comment on Instagram.

The previous record was also held by Ronaldo, whose comment on Kylian Mbappé’s announcement of his move to Real Madrid reportedly received more than five million likes.

Other football stars also expressed their condolences to Messi. Neymar Jr.’s message, translated as “Much strength for you and your family. Big hug,” reportedly received more than 1.6 million likes, while David Beckham’s comment expressing support for Messi and his family attracted more than 300,000 likes.

In his tribute, Messi described his father’s death as difficult to comprehend, saying he struggled to accept that he would no longer see or speak with him.

Messi also recalled how his father had encouraged him to play at the 2026 World Cup despite his deteriorating health. He said his father had hoped to watch him compete and had planned to travel if his condition improved.

According to Messi, he had promised his father that Argentina would reach the final so he could be there. Although Argentina reached the final, his father was unable to attend.

Reflecting on the loss, Messi said he had wanted to win the tournament and bring the trophy to his father but ultimately struggled physically during the competition.

The emotional tribute highlighted the close bond between Messi and his father and the profound impact of his loss on the football superstar.