In 2026, China's black garlic exports will continue their accelerated growth trend, with an estimated annual export volume reaching 38,000 to 40,000 tons, maintaining a year-on-year growth rate of 8%-10%, and export value expected to exceed $250 million. The growth momentum primarily stems from two dimensions: first, steady capacity expansion, as national black garlic production capacity will reach 197,000 tons in 2026, with output at 158,000 tons, and the proportion of high-quality black garlic rising to 40%, ensuring ample supply for exports; second, product structure upgrading, with exports of deep-processed products such as black garlic extracts, health supplement capsules, and functional beverages increasing from the current 15% to 25%, whose export unit price is more than three times that of primary products, becoming a key driver of revenue growth. As the core production base, Shandong Jinxiang will account for 53% of national exports, leveraging industrial cluster advantages to establish a complete "raw material cultivation - refined processing - cold chain export" chain.
In 2026, foreign trade will still face three major challenges: raw material garlic prices fluctuating by over 30%, directly impacting production costs; the EU's newly revised pesticide residue standards lowering imidacloprid limits to 0.01mg/kg, five times stricter than domestic standards, affecting 127,000 tons of exports; and capacity expansion in countries like India squeezing market share in the Middle East. The response strategies focus on three key areas: first, building a stable supply chain by securing raw material bases through the "enterprise + cooperative" model to mitigate price volatility risks; second, strengthening the certification system with targeted breakthroughs in EU organic certification and U.S. NDI certification, optimizing product standards accordingly; third, advancing brand transformation by leveraging geographical indication products like "Jinxiang Garlic" to enhance premium pricing capabilities and cultivating 50 leading enterprises with annual export revenues exceeding $10 million.
In 2026, China's black garlic cloves foreign trade will achieve dual breakthroughs in both scale expansion and quality improvement, with its global market share expected to rise from 48% to 49.2%. Enterprises must seize policy dividends and the trend of health-conscious consumption by pursuing product innovation, market diversification, and supply chain upgrades. These strategies will help overcome trade barriers and cost pressures, enabling China's black garlic cloves industry to transition from "capacity advantage" to "brand advantage" and secure a more prominent position in the global functional food market.
Post time: Jan-09-2026
