From the dehydration workshop in the Hexi Corridor of Gansu Province to the hot pot tables in Southeast Asia, from the tacos stalls in Mexico to the supermarket shelves in Europe and America, the red and shiny dried chilli with a rich aroma is crossing borders and becoming a vibrant specialty agricultural product in global trade. As a core category of spice exports in China,dried chilli carries regional flavors and industrial resilience, writing a new chapter in foreign trade amidst the opportunities and challenges of the global market.
China possesses natural advantages in the foreign trade of dried chilli, with a solid industrial foundation. Core production areas such as Tianshui in Gansu and Zunyi in Guizhou, relying on their unique climates, have nurtured chili varieties with thick flesh, rich oil, and distinctive flavors. These varieties are finely ground and processed into dried chilli products of varying spiciness levels and specifications, catering to diverse global consumer demands. The Western Chili Industrial Park in Gaotai, Zhangye, has achieved an annual processing capacity of over 50,000 tons of fresh dried chilli, transforming local dried chilli into export-grade dried chilli and driving a doubling of product added value. In the global trade landscape, China stands as one of the major exporters of dried chilli. In 2024, its dried chilli exports to Mexico amounted to $8.04 billion. Meanwhile, China has deeply penetrated markets in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the United States, forming an export pattern characterized by "diversified varieties and segmented scenarios".
The robust demand in the global market has fueled the foreign trade of dried paprika. The Asian market prefers high-spicy varieties, and the hot pot and barbecue scenes in Southeast Asia have a strong demand for our "Mantianxing" dried paprika; the European and American markets focus on specialty seasonings, and small-packaged chili crumbs and compound seasoning chili powder are favored by the home cooking and fast food industries; emerging markets such as Africa and the Middle East are experiencing rapid growth in demand, opening up new spaces for the industry. The expansion of multinational food chains and the popularization of convenience foods have further broadened the application scenarios of dried paprika, promoting its upgrading from a single condiment to a raw material for the food industry.
The foreign trade journey of whole chilli serves as a microcosm of China's characteristic agricultural products "going global". From addressing trade barriers to actively leading standards, from raw material export to brand expansion overseas, this striking "Chinese red" is using quality as a bridge and innovation as wings. In the future, with the deepening of global standard alignment and industrial upgrading, China's whole chilli will surely occupy a more important position in the global spice market, allowing the oriental flavor to spread around the world.
Post time: Jan-16-2026
