On the vast stage of global agricultural trade, Chinese salted garlic is becoming a beautiful scenery in international trade with its unique industrial advantages, huge export scale, and sustained market demand. By 2025, as the world's largest producer and exporter of garlic, China's salted garlic foreign trade not only carries the achievements of agricultural modernization, but also faces challenges and opportunities from changes in the international trade environment.
The foreign trade status of Chinese salted garlic is rooted in a strong industrial foundation. According to statistics, the export volume of garlic in China reached 2.4934 million tons in 2024, with an export value of 3.874 billion US dollars, an increase of 9% and 25% year-on-year, respectively. Among them, salted garlic, as an important processing category, has seen an increasing export volume year by year, reaching 4349.85 tons in the first half of 2024 alone, earning 8.0133 million US dollars in foreign exchange. Behind this growth is the large-scale planting and full industry chain layout in major production areas such as Shandong, Henan, and Jiangsu.
Shandong, as the "hometown of garlic", has a planting area of 2.6865 million acres, accounting for 21.41% of the country's total. Its superior soil and climate have nurtured high-quality garlic sources. Jiangsu, Henan and other regions rely on processing technology to transform fresh garlic into value-added products such as garlic in brine, forming an integrated model of "seed production sales". The government's continuous support for agricultural product exports, such as export tax rebates and tariff preferences, has reduced the cost of international competition. At the same time, China's advantages in labor and raw material costs enable garlic in brine to maintain price competitiveness in the international market.
Some countries restrict imports by raising quality inspection standards and adding non-tariff barriers. For example, the United States has launched an anti-dumping investigation on Chinese garlic, and the European Union has set stricter limits on pesticide residues. This requires companies to strengthen their self inspection capabilities, establish traceability systems, and ensure that their products comply with international standards.
Pickled garlic is not only used as a seasoning, but its sulfide and antioxidant components are gradually recognized as health elements. The increasing demand for low salt and organic pickled garlic in the international market has driven enterprises to develop low sodium pickling technology and explore the functional food market. Extending from primary processing to high value-added products, such as developing black garlic, allicin extract, etc. At the same time, in response to the global carbon neutrality goal, promote organic planting and environmentally friendly packaging, and enhance the sustainable development capacity of the industry. Use the "the Belt and Road" initiative to deepen trade cooperation with Central Asian and Central and Eastern European countries; Develop small packaging pickled garlic for the African market to meet its retail channel needs.
In 2025, China's pickled garlic foreign trade is in a critical transition period from "scale expansion" to "dual improvement of quality and efficiency". Faced with challenges, the industry needs to use technology as the spear and quality as the shield, while consolidating traditional markets, exploring emerging markets, and achieving sustained expansion of the trade map. In the future, with the deepening of global health consumption and the promotion of industrial upgrading, Chinese pickled garlic will surely shine brighter on the international stage.
Post time: Apr-10-2025