With the popularization of global health consumption concepts and the acceleration of food and beverage industrialization, frozen chopped spinach, as a convenient and nutritious green ingredient, has become an important category in China's agricultural product foreign trade. In 2026, benefiting from policy dividends, technological upgrades, and changes in market demand, China's frozen chopped spinach foreign trade will show a trend of steady expansion and structural optimization. At the same time, it will also face international competition and compliance challenges, moving towards a new stage of high-quality development amidst opportunities and challenges.
One of the core trends in China's foreign trade of frozen chopped spinach in 2026 is the steady increase in export scale, with growth momentum continuing to be unleashed. Looking back at the period from 2021 to 2025, the market size of frozen chopped spinach in China experienced a compound annual growth rate of 6.8%. In 2025, the export volume reached 86,000 tons, marking a year-on-year increase of 9.4%. As we enter 2026, this growth momentum is set to continue, with the export volume expected to maintain a growth rate of over 7%. The key factors driving this growth are multifaceted. On the one hand, the tariff reduction and exemption policies under the RCEP framework continue to take effect, significantly reducing the cost of China's frozen chopped spinach exports to Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asian countries, thereby significantly enhancing market competitiveness. Demand from emerging markets such as the Philippines and Panama is also gradually emerging. On the other hand, the explosive growth of the ready-to-eat meal industry has driven a surge in global demand for quick-frozen vegetable raw materials. As a commonly used auxiliary ingredient, frozen chopped spinach continues to see robust overseas procurement demand.
The continuous optimization of the export structure, with high value-added products emerging as a new growth pole, is a significant highlight of the foreign trade trend in 2026. Historically, China's exports of frozen spinach cuts were primarily primary processed products with low added value. However, in 2026, there will be an accelerated shift towards refinement and functionalization. Enterprises are increasing their technological investment, popularizing processes such as liquid nitrogen quick-freezing and vacuum precooling, which significantly enhance the color, taste, and nutrient retention of spinach, approaching the level of fresh produce. Simultaneously, the export proportion of organic certified, zero-added, low-sodium formulated frozen spinach cuts, as well as products suitable for household and light meal scenarios such as small packages and ready-to-cook types, is continuously increasing. These products exhibit significant premium pricing power and can generate higher profits for enterprises. Furthermore, the forms of export products have also become more diverse, with diversified products such as spinach segments and spinach balls meeting the differentiated needs of different overseas markets.
Looking ahead to 2026, China's frozen spinach foreign trade faces both opportunities and challenges. As long as enterprises focus on product innovation and quality improvement, accelerate low-carbon transformation and digital upgrading, and leverage the benefits of RCEP to expand into diversified markets, they will be able to take the initiative in global competition. It is believed that with the combined efforts of policy support, technological progress, and enterprise development, China's frozen spinach will continue to expand its international influence, promote the steady progress of agricultural product foreign trade towards high quality and high added value, and write a new chapter for green ingredients to go global.
Post time: Feb-04-2026
