Canola oil exports from Canada to China has increased yearly from 5,000 tons in 1993 to 35,000 tons in 1996. Consumer Consumption With highest income per capita in China, it is not surprising that the people in the Shanghai area are the biggest consumers of grain and oil in China. As mentioned in the above, in 1995, every Chinese person consumes an average of 11 kg per person. When compared to other places such as Taiwan and Hong Kong, which consumes an average of 35 kg per person, there is a lot of room for growth in China. The average consumption in Shanghai is about 1.5 times that of China.
Oil is used extensively in almost all types of Chinese cuisine.
The tradition has been using animals fats, particularly lard, as the main source of cooking fats and oil. However, as people become more aware of their health and diet, many Chinese have began to use vegetable oils for their cooking. Deep fried dishes are a favourite among Shanghainese, which is another reason for the higher consumption of oils in the Shanghai area. As for grains, the demand for various grains will increase in China as more and more farm lands are being used for urban development. The rising living standards in China will also increase the consumption of grains.