Nation's imports of UK food and beverages boom in 2017

Trade value totaled $783.6 million, lifting China's ranking from ninth in 2016 to eighth last year

China became the eighth-largest importer of food and drink from the United Kingdom in 2017, according to new data that showed a growing Chinese appetite for British milk powder, salmon, whisky, and beer.

UK food and drink exports to China grew by 28 percent last year, to reach 564.4 million pounds ($783.6 million) in value, according to trade figures released by the UK's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which is also called Defra.