China aims to change perceptions of halal

Estimated at around 1 to 2 percent of the population, Muslims are very much in the minority in China and concentrated in regions including Ningxia Hui autonomous region, Gansu province, Qinghai province and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Yet this small percentage still translates into a population of more than 20 million people, representing a sizable market for local and foreign enterprises in halal food and other products.

Southeast Asian companies have been making forays into China while, at the same time, indigenous local businesses that have long provided for the dietary needs of their fellow believers are looking to expand beyond the country's borders.

China's share of total global halal food exports averages about $100 million per year. This is considered to be a meager figure and has the potential to grow significantly. While there are big local companies that have successfully penetrated the overseas markets, many smaller ones are struggling to be visible.