BEIJING — China’s agricultural products trade reported a deficit of $12.72 billion 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 while exports went down 10.5 percent to $10.8 billion, statistics released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs showed.

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

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