Industries with the Largest Number of Businesses in China in 2022

1. Cotton Growing in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 50,100,000

Revenue from the Cotton Growing industry in China is estimated to reach $14.4 billion in 2021, down 1.2% from 2020. Industry revenue is expected to decline at an annualized 0.4% over the five years through 2021. These decreases have largely been the result of decreasing demand from synthetic fiber manufacturers.

China is the largest producer of cotton in the world, with a plant area of 3.2 million hectares as at 2020. China is also the largest global consumer market for cotton, as cotton is one of the main raw materials for many Chinese industries. China has about 50.1 million cotton farming... Learn More

2. Fast-Food Restaurants in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 2,431,563

In recent years, lifestyle changes and reduced leisure time have contributed to a consumer shift from traditional full-service restaurants toward fast-food establishments. In addition, increased Western influences in China have boosted demand for fast food. Due to the rapid development of fast-food service providers, improvements in chain store and franchising management, and new brands and food styles, industry growth has been strong over the past decade.

ACMR-IBISWorld estimates that the Fast-Food Restaurants industry in China will generate $162.2 billion in 2021. Revenue is expected to increase by 3.1% in 2021, as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 outbreak. Industry revenue is... Learn More

3. Full-Service Restaurants in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 2,381,000

Full-service restaurants in China account for the largest share of revenue of all the industries in China's catering subsector. Revenue for China's catering subsector totaled $627.5 billion in 2021, of which $459.3 billion was generated by the Full-Service Restaurants industry.

The Full-Service Restaurants industry's proportion of the total catering subsector has decreased slightly in recent years, due to the rapid growth of its main external competitor, the Fast-Food Restaurant industry in China (IBISWorld report 6720). Nevertheless, the Full-Service Restaurants industry has grown steadily over the past five years. Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized rate of 0.3% over... Learn More

4. Chinese Medicinal Herb Growing in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 2,359,736

China is one of the largest growing and consumer countries of ginseng and pseudo-ginseng in the world. Rising prices and the growing popularity of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have driven increased supply and demand for industry products in recent years.

The Chinese Medicinal Herb Growing industry is expected to grow at an annualized 10.3% over the five years through 2021, to $40.0 billion. Over the period, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China was established to assist the industry by developing industry standards and optimizing the allocation of resources. Industry revenue is expected to rise... Learn More

5. Legume Growing in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 2,331,758

China is the largest legume-consuming country in the world. Legumes such as soy are the main input in commonly used domestic cooking oils and bean products. China is the fourth largest producer of legumes in the world, with 125 billion square meters of planting area in 2020. Revenue for the Legume Growing industry is expected to rise at an annualized 3.0% over the five years through 2021, to $18.3 billion. This trend includes anticipated growth of 3.2% in the current year.

As legumes are not high-yielding crops and large quantities of imports have lowered domestic legume prices, many farmers have reduced... Learn More

6. Tobacco Growing in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 2,118,313

Tobacco is grown in over 125 countries on over 4.0 million hectares of land, a quarter of which is in China. The global tobacco crop is worth approximately $20 billion, a small fraction of the total amount generated from the sale of manufactured tobacco products around the world.

Tobacco is grown on less than 1% of the world's agricultural land and in a wide variety of soils and climates. Since the 1960s, the bulk of production has moved from the Americas to Africa and Asia. Land devoted to tobacco growing has been halved in the United States, Canada and Mexico, but... Learn More

7. Sheep and Cattle Farming in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 1,814,506

Revenue for the Sheep and Cattle Farming industry in China is expected to increase at an annualized 2.8% over the five years through 2021, to $116.9 billion. This includes an expected revenue increase of 3.7% in the current year. Domestic demand for beef and mutton in China is expected to increase at an annualized 2.8% over the five years through 2021, due to China's rising population and improved living standards. In addition, the prices of these meats have steadily increased over the past five years.

The industry's profit margins have declined over the past five years due to rising raw material... Learn More

8. In-Home Care & Other Household Services in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 738,500

The In-Home Care & Other Household Services industry in China has developed significantly in recent years. The industry has grown particularly due to the improving income levels of Chinese residents, increasing number of new births and elders, accelerating pace of life, and a high labor force participation rate. Industry revenue is expected to total $110.8 billion in 2021, which is a 11.6% increase from 2020. Moreover, the industry is anticipated to have an annualized growth rate of 13.3% over the past five years. Industry profit is low, with an average of 7.1% of industry revenue in 2021, mainly diminished by... Learn More

9. Poultry Farming in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 540,032

Revenue for the Poultry Farming industry in China is expected to grow at an annualized 5.6% over the five years through 2021, to $130.3 billion. This steady growth has occurred due to rising poultry prices and output growth. Total poultry meat output is expected to increase by 6.4% in 2021, to 25.1 million tons, while revenue is set to grow by 6.7%. For a typical poultry farm, feed and poultry prices largely determine returns.

The industry will continue to mature over the next five years. Revenue is forecast to rise at an annualized 5.7% over the five years through 2026, to... Learn More

10. Shoe Stores in China

Number of Businesses for 2022: 407,387

Strongly growing domestic demand for footwear from China's large population has supported the development of the Shoe Store industry in China over the past five years. In addition, rising income levels and the availability of a wider range of higher quality footwear products has boosted domestic sales for the industry. Industry revenue is expected to increase at an annualized 0.6% over the five years through 2021, to reach $44.8 billion.

Mainland China has been the largest global manufacturing base for footwear since the 1990s. Currently, China supplies over 65.0% of global footwear demand. Domestic manufacturers have gradually improved their manufacturing technologies... Learn More