Typhoons add to China’s food security headache, as export bans push up prices

Torrential rain brought by two successive typhoons has added to concerns over China’s food security, which is already under pressure as export bans from the likes of India have pushed up global prices, pushing officials and researchers to warn of a “severe impact” on agricultural production. Typhoon Doksuri made landfall in China on Friday, and its remnants, along with the arrival of Typhoon Khanun this week, have flooded fields and damaged crops in northern China, with agricultural authorities worried about the potential effect on the northeast grain production base. A number of countries, including major supplier India, have also recently announced rice export bans, raising concerns over price surges and panic buying despite sufficient domestic supply.