Customs data showed that China's exports of green beans in the first quarter of this year increased by 47% over the same period last year.

The export volume of green beans in the first quarter of this year amounted to 4668 tons. The biggest buyer is Kazakhstan, importing 1425 tons of products, an increase of 58% over the same period last year.

China's canned green beans export market has reversed the trend of agricultural exports since mid-2000, reaching 15891 tons last year, up from 127 tons in 2005.

The Middle East market for canned green beans has taken shape, with China exporting 494 and 214 tons of canned green beans to Jordan and Iraq in the first quarter of 2012 and a gap until 2011.

Interestingly, canneries also say that demand for canned fruits in the Middle East has increased this season, which may be due to the long shelf life of canned fruits and is well suited to customers in drought-stricken areas.

Although green beans can grow in China, the market is still dominated by the European Union. The world's top suppliers are Hungary, France, Italy and Belgium. Although Belgium's exports in 2011 were at their lowest level since 1999, there were clear signs of growth in China.

Canned green beans are a low value-added product. The average unit price in 2010 is 1126.67 US dollars per ton.