The construction of cost and efficiency barriers for the entire industry chain cluster is the foundation of foreign trade competitiveness. Shandong Pingdu has built a leading kimchi export base in the country, with its products occupying over 60% of the Korean market share; Jiangsu Xinghua, as the "number one county for dehydrated processing of fruits and vegetables in China", will export over 62% of dehydrated vegetables in 2024, with an annual sales revenue of 5.3 billion yuan. This cluster effect runs through the entire chain from planting to logistics: In Ganzhou, Qiao Geng Jia has established 36 mustard bases in 5 provinces, achieving an efficiency revolution of "planting 160000 plants per person per day" through transplanting machines, with raw material costs 12% -15% lower than international peers; Qingdao Lulin Company has established a factory in the raw material production area and secured the source of goods in advance, resulting in a significant increase in export volume in the first three quarters. Large scale production and cluster matching enable Chinese dehydrated kimchi to maintain its export price advantage while still achieving a gross profit margin of around 30%.
Technological innovation solves the problems of quality and compliance, and opens up channels for the high-end market. In response to strict overseas standards, enterprises are accelerating technological upgrades: Clever Farming has developed an automated fermentation system to reduce nitrite content below drinking water standards. With one invention patent and 20 utility model patents, production capacity has increased by 20 times compared to six years ago; Baoshan Shangtian Agriculture has obtained the first production license for dried cabbage industry through 9 patents and 3 enterprise standards, successfully opening the door to the European and American markets. The popularization of technologies such as vacuum freeze-drying is of milestone significance. Xinghua Top Energy Company has introduced internationally leading freeze-drying equipment, which has achieved a vitamin retention rate of over 90% and extended the shelf life to 18 months, perfectly meeting the needs of long-distance sea transportation. In 2024, the number of kimchi enterprises in China that have passed international certifications such as BRC and HACCP increased by 62% year-on-year, and the export return rate dropped to a historical low of 2.1%.
Accurately adapting to global market demand, achieving a two-way flow between flavor and market. Tailored research and development for different regional taste preferences: launching low salt base flavors for Japan and South Korea, with a projected export volume of 52.7 million US dollars to Japan and 33.3 million US dollars to South Korea by 2024; Developing a durable storage and transportation product line for the Southeast Asian market, with a repurchase rate 18 percentage points higher than the general version; Creating an additive free version for the health trend in Europe and America, it was awarded the "Fermented Food of the Year" on the Amazon platform. This strategy of "local flavor+global adaptation" allows Chinese dried kimchi to maintain cultural identity while breaking through regional consumption restrictions, with export growth rates exceeding 50% in emerging markets such as Thailand and Germany in 2024.
From industrial clusters to technological breakthroughs, from policy dividends to market innovation, the foreign trade advantages of Chinese dried kimchi are not accidental. This concentrated Eastern style kimchi is not only a microcosm of agricultural modernization, but also a vivid footnote to the high-quality development of China's foreign trade. It is continuously expanding on the global taste map with its hardcore strength.
Post time: Sep-25-2025
