From the fertile fields of the Yellow River Delta to the dining tables of Southeast Asia, from food processing factories in Europe to the kitchens of the Middle East, Chinese frozen chopped onion are completing a global journey across borders with their stable quality and efficient supply chain. As a major onion-producing country, China, with its comprehensive processing system and technological advancements, has transformed this ordinary vegetable into a distinctive export product, writing a new chapter in the deep processing of agricultural products for international markets.
A solid industrial foundation serves as the backbone for the foreign trade of frozen chopped onion. China has established four core production regions: Shandong, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Yunnan, which collectively account for over 78% of the national output. Relying on a comprehensive cold chain logistics system, Shandong contributes more than 35% of the national output, with exports reaching 236,000 tons in 2023, marking a 41% increase from 2020. The Hexi Corridor in Gansu, leveraging the temperature difference between day and night, maintains a stable dry matter content of 14% to 16% in its onions, resulting in export prices that are 12% to 15% higher than the national average. The integration of large-scale planting bases with the "enterprise + cooperative" model not only ensures the stability of raw material supply but also controls pesticide residues through standardized planting, thereby establishing a quality defense line for exports.
The diversified export pattern outlines a clear trajectory of foreign trade growth. China's frozen onion cubes have been exported to multiple regions such as the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, with its global trade share increasing from 19% to 28%. The demand in Japan and South Korea is precise, with Japan preferring selected granules with a diameter of 5 to 8 centimeters, while South Korea favors small-sized packaging. The tariff advantage drove exports to South Korea to increase by 23% year-on-year in the first half of 2024. Relying on the dividends of the RCEP agreement, exports to Southeast Asia have grown rapidly. In 2023, exports to ASEAN exceeded 82,000 tons, and the compound annual growth rate of demand in countries such as Malaysia and the Philippines reached 9.8%. The Middle East market has become a new blue ocean, with import volumes in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar surging by 56% year-on-year in 2023. The Dubai Free Trade Zone has established dedicated turnover warehouses to ensure supply.
A tiny frozen onion cubes carries the achievements of China's agricultural modernization. From precision farming in the fields to technological innovation in the workshops, and to efficient distribution through transoceanic transportation, China is leveraging its full industrial chain advantages to bring distinctive agricultural products out of the country and unleash their unique value in the global market.
Post time: Jan-22-2026
