2025 China Frozen Basil: A Quality Breakthrough Path in Spices Foreign Trade

Driven by the global surge in pre-made meal trends and the upgrading of healthy diets, China's frozen basil exports achieved leapfrog growth in 2025. This spice, hailed as the "soul of Western cuisine," transformed from Shandong Ju County's cultivation base to the kitchens of Italian restaurants. Through precise demand insights, comprehensive quality control across the entire supply chain, and an efficient logistics network, it became a new benchmark for Chinese specialty agricultural products venturing overseas. Its export advantages are reflected in the deep integration of market adaptation, industrial foundation, and channel expansion.

Global demand upgrades inject core momentum into foreign trade growth. With the annual growth rate of the pre-made meal market in Europe and the U.S. reaching 12%, frozen basil leaves, as a key ingredient in classic dishes such as pasta sauces and pizza, continues to see rising demand. Meanwhile, the expansion of its antioxidant components into the health supplement sector further opens up high-end market opportunities. China has accurately grasped this trend, with frozen basil leaves exports exceeding 8,000 tons in 2024 and projected to rise to 15,000 tons in 2025, accounting for over 72% of the EU, North America, and Southeast Asia markets. The 4×4mm standard basil crumbles produced by enterprises such as Shandong Juxian Ruifeng Food, which meet industrial processing requirements, hold a 35% share in the European supermarket supply chain. 

Policy and Logistics Innovation Pave the Fast Track for Global Expansion. At the national level, the General Administration of Customs has precisely implemented the "Sixteen Measures for Facilitating Customs Clearance," including a "24/7" pre-approval system for frozen chopped basil shipments, "instant clearance" for goods not selected for inspection, and "zero-delay cloud signing" of certificates. Local policies continue to intensify: Shandong provides export enterprises with equipment renewal subsidies of up to 16 million yuan, while Ningxia's rail-sea intermodal cold chain freight trains reduce European transportation costs by 15%. The logistics network is further optimized, enabling temperature-controlled transport from Yinchuan to Hungary via "rail + sea" cold chain intermodal shipping, with a loss rate kept below 3%, a 60% reduction compared to traditional methods.