China's agricultural products trade reported a deficit of 12.72 billion U.S. dollars in the January-February period, up 37.1 percent year on year, official statistics showed.

Imports increased by 10.2 percent year on year to 23.52 billion U.S. dollars while exports went down 10.5 percent to 10.8 billion U.S. dollars, statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed.

China imported 3.26 million tonnes of grain in the first two months, while exports stood at 365,000 tonnes.

Total imports of edible vegetable oil grew 44.5 percent to 1.71 million tonnes during the period while imports of beef surged 54.6 percent year on year.