In the morning mist, the "Xijiang Cinnamon Corridor" in Zhaoqing Gaoyao stretches across 70.05万亩 (approximately 46,700 hectares) of rolling hills, where cinnamon trees flourish. Annually, 14.46万吨 (around 28,920 tons) of cinnamon bark sets sail from here, carrying its fragrance to global markets in the Middle East, North America, Southeast Asia, and beyond. By 2025, China's cinnamon export industry, leveraging advantages in resources, production, policy, and market, is poised to write a new chapter in the globalization of "Eastern Spices.".
Resource endowment lays the foundation. As a core production region accounting for over 80% of global cassia output, China has developed a cluster of premium production areas, including Gaoyao in Guangdong, Fangcheng in Guangxi, and Wenshan in Yunnan. Gaoyao, leveraging its mountainous climate and the "Gaogui cassia No. 1" high-quality variety, cultivates cassia with high cinnamaldehyde content and minimal impurities, making it a key supplier for Starbucks and Coca-Cola. For instance, 90% of the cassia used by Coca-Cola originates from this region. This inherent quality advantage creates a differentiated competitive edge, as the mild flavor of Gaoyao cassia fosters stable "flavor memories" among international brands, resulting in significantly stronger cooperative loyalty compared to competing production areas in Vietnam and Indonesia.
The upgrading of the industrial chain unleashes value potential. The transition from "raw material exports" to "finished product exports" has led to a qualitative leap in foreign trade profits: raw material exports yield only 1%-2% profit, while processing into cinnamon powder and cinnamon granules boosts profits to 50%. Cinnamaldehyde, in its peak, reached a unit price of 240,000 yuan per ton. Gaoyao has established a full-chain system encompassing "seedling breeding — standardized cultivation — deep processing — trade circulation," with 22 patented technologies giving rise to 52 trendy products. Huaxin Flavoring now accounts for over 70% of the global beverage industry's demand for cinnamon oil. Meanwhile, Fangcheng enterprises in Guangxi have utilized digital sorting and WMS traceability systems to ensure compliance with EU stringent inspections, opening access to the high-end market.
From precious treasures on Tang Dynasty merchant ships to the core raw material of modern supply chains, China's cinnamon powder has never enjoyed such robust advantages in foreign trade. With abundant resources, industrial empowerment, and policy support, the "Eastern Bark" of 2025 is emerging with even greater vigor, ensuring that the global dining table remembers the taste of China.
Post time: Oct-14-2025
