(Yicai) Nov. 7 -- The American Food and Agricultural Pavilion penned contracts worth USD815 million on its opening day at the 7th China International Import Expo yesterday, a 65 percent jump from last year, as US firms are increasingly upbeat on China’s growing market.

Commodity trader Hangtang Tung Resources (USA) has inked agreements with four Chinese firms, namely Xiamen ITG Agricultural Products, Xiamen Mingsui Grains & Oils Trading and animal feed raw materials supplier Bozun and Sichuan Luzhou Baijiu Industrial Park.

Highland Hay International, a supplier of alfalfa bales, is supplying hay to New Hope International Trading and Tianjin Tianyi Intel Trading. The Springfield-based company also intends to team up with Beijing Xingfeng Intel Trading and Cangzhou Yuheqingqing Agri Tech.

Grain supplier Anderson Northwest is linking arms with Ghana’s Bonagro on dry green peas, and health firm Dynamite Speciality Products and dog accessory maker Pawberry struck a deal over pets food and supplements.

A wide array of beef, poultry, wine, rice, dry peas, potatoes, whiskey, ginseng, fruits, dairy goods, seasoning, bulk trade products, cotton, food packaging, and pet food are all on display in the 240-square-meter exhibition area.

Government representatives, national trade associations, food manufacturers and export firms are among the 14 exhibitors and 31 participating entities to take part in this year’s US Food and Agriculture Pavilion, organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the United States Department of Agriculture.

AmCham Shanghai supports small and medium-sized enterprises and trade groups which might not normally be able to afford such exposure and helps them to connect with provincial authorities and business leaders in the country, AmCham Shanghai Chair Allan Gabor said.

AmCham Shanghai is helping smaller businesses and different government departments, such as the Washington State Department of Agriculture, to come to the CIIE for the first time to understand what a great market China is, Gabor said.

American agricultural exports to China have grown steadily over the past decade, AmCham Shanghai President Eric Zheng said. In the past three years these exports have averaged USD33 billion a year.

"Despite an average annual growth rate of 2 percent over the last 10 years, there's significant potential for expansion as China's demand for high-quality agricultural products continues to rise," Zheng said. Despite geopolitical tensions, Amcham Shanghai has great confidence in the Chinese market's development and potential, due to its vast consumer base and expanding middle class, he added.

“China has also done a great job of modernizing the food supply chain. This investment in modernization is giving both Chinese and international companies opportunities in areas connected to the supply chain, such as biosecurity and food safety, and not just food products,” Gabor said.

“Trade in food and agriculture is not just about money, it's also a bond. It creates a bond between people and it creates a deeper cultural understanding. So I would not underestimate the value of food and agricultural trade between the two countries,” Gabor said.

Editor: Kim Taylor