Tangerine peel, a treasure of China's millennia-old medicinal and culinary culture, transforms from the citrus rinds of Lingnan into a distinctive agricultural product destined for global markets. In recent years, with the rise of the global wellness movement and the international dissemination of traditional Chinese medicine, China's tangerine peel exports have maintained a positive momentum. Based on industry development data, policy directions, and international market demand, we present the following forecast for China's tangerine peel export trends in 2026.
In 2026, China's dried tangerine export volume is expected to steadily increase, with export value projected to surpass $200 million, maintaining the rapid growth trend seen in recent years. Looking back, China's dried tangerine trade has shifted from reliance on imports to export earnings, reaching $183 million in 2024—a 27.6% year-on-year growth. Thanks to expanded production capacity in core regions and upgraded processing technologies, the supply of high-quality dried tangerine will further strengthen in 2026, with net exports anticipated to exceed 2,500 tons. Among these, Xinhui dried tangerine, as a geographical indication product, will continue to dominate the premium export market, accounting for over 60% of total exports due to its unique quality, serving as the core driver of export growth.
The export market strategy will adopt a diversified pattern of "deepening traditional markets and breaking into emerging markets." In traditional markets, East Asian countries such as Japan and South Korea remain key export destinations, with their long-standing recognition of diced orange peel's medicinal value. By 2026, export volumes will maintain steady growth. Meanwhile, the European and American markets will continue to heat up. As traditional Chinese medicine gains wider acceptance in these regions, the application of diced orange peel in health supplements and natural food ingredients will expand, with export shares expected to rise to 20%. Notably, Southeast Asia and North America will emerge as new growth drivers. Leveraging the benefits of the RCEP policy, reduced export tariffs, and improved trade facilitation will accelerate diced orange peel's entry into local markets, meeting the wellness demands of both Chinese communities and native consumers.
Multiple favorable factors will collectively drive the growth of diced orange peel exports in 2026. At the policy level, the national "Healthy China 2030" initiative and measures to facilitate medicinal material exports continue to gain momentum, while simplified customs inspection procedures remove obstacles for diced orange peel exports. On the industrial front, standardized cultivation, intelligent warehousing, and advanced processing technologies enhance diced orange peel quality and added value, with the export average price expected to rise further in 2026. From a distribution perspective, the widespread adoption of cross-border e-commerce and social commerce breaks geographical barriers, and the multi-tiered sales networks established by leading enterprises will enable diced orange peel to reach global end consumers more efficiently.
Post time: Feb-12-2026
