Price Trends of Dehydrated Garlic Exports from China (2021-2026)

1、 Overall price trend: volume increases, price decreases, average price continues to decline

2021-2023: The average export price of dehydrated garlic (HS 0712.90.40) remains in the range of 2500-3400 US dollars/ton, with the average export price of dried garlic reaching 2525 US dollars/ton in 2021. In 2022, due to global supply chain disruptions, it briefly rebounded to 2865 US dollars/ton (a monthly peak). In 2023, affected by rising raw material costs, the average price slightly rebounded to about 3000 US dollars/ton.

In 2024, the average export price significantly rebounded to 3382 US dollars per ton, mainly due to the increase in the proportion of processed products (such as garlic powder and garlic granules) exports, and the overall average price driven by high value-added products.

By 2025, the average export price will remain stable at 3382 US dollars per ton, but the export value will slightly decrease by 0.41%, reflecting the pattern of "increasing quantity and stabilizing price".

In 2026, prices experienced a cliff like decline, with the average export price from January to March dropping to about $2270/ton, a year-on-year decrease of over 30%, mainly due to high domestic inventory and intensified competition among exporters for "price for quantity".

Data sources: China Customs, Steel Union Data, and the Market Warning Team of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The average export price of dried garlic from 2021 to 2026 is based on the HS 0712.90.40 statistical caliber.

2、 Price differentiation by process: price difference between freeze-drying (FD) and hot air drying (AD) widens

|Process type | Average price in 2025 (USD/ton) | Average price in 2026 (USD/ton) | Price difference change|

|Hot air drying (AD) | 3382 | ≈ 2100 | reduced to about 1.6 times|

|Freeze dried (FD) | 16500-18000 | ≈ 14000-155000 | still 6-7 times higher than AD|

Due to the export volume accounting for over 90% of hot air drying products, price fluctuations dominate the overall trend. In 2026, prices will be significantly affected by low-priced procurement from Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

3、 Comparison of Unit Prices in Major Export Markets (2025-2026)

|Market | 2025 Export Average Price (USD/ton) | 2026 Export Average Price (USD/ton) | Trend of Changes|

|Japan | 3800-4200 | 3100-3400 | Decreased by 18% -20%, strict control of sulfur fumigation and pesticide residues, decreased acceptance|

|EU | 3600-4000 | 2900-3200 | Decreased by 19%, affected by cadmium limit (≤ 0.05 mg/kg), some batches were rejected|

|US | 3200-3500 | 2400-2700 | Decreased by 22%, civilian channels open, but trade frictions remain a concern|

|South Korea | 3500-3800 | 2800-3100 | Decreased by 20%, requiring an increase in the cost of "non GMO+no additives" labels|

|Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Vietnam) | 2100-2400 | 1800-2000 | Decreased by 10% -15%, the largest incremental market, and the most price sensitive|

Note: The data for 2026 is the average from January to March, reflecting the current downward trend. Due to strict standards, the EU and Japan still have higher price resilience than other markets.

4、 Core driving factors

On the supply side: In 2026, the garlic harvest area increased by 8% year-on-year, with a production of 15.99 million tons and high inventory, forcing export companies to "trade price for quantity".

Demand side: International buyers are strengthening their price cutting strategies, especially in markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia, where buyers are concentrating on price cutting to compress profit margins.

On the cost side, the decline in ocean freight rates, fluctuations in the Chinese yuan exchange rate, and rising packaging and certification costs further squeeze export profits.

Policy side: The United States' restrictions on military supply channels and the potential impact of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) increase compliance costs.

5、 Latest news and trend prediction (as of May 2026)

In April 2026, the export volume reached 183500 tons (a single month historical high), but the export amount was only 236 million US dollars, and the average price dropped to 1285 US dollars/ton, the lowest in nearly a decade.

In May 2026, local enterprises in Linyi generally launched the "freeze-drying transformation+blockchain traceability" strategy, and the proportion of high value-added product exports increased to 42%, but overall prices are still under pressure.

Future trend: It is expected that prices will stabilize in the second half of 2026, with freeze-dried and dehydrated garlic becoming the main price support. Traditional hot air drying products may continue to face "low-quality and low-priced" competition.

Linyi Yunpeng Food Co., Ltd. is located in Linyi City, Shandong Province, mainly engaged in the production, research and development, and sales of various dehydrated vegetable products for the Japanese market. The main products include dehydrated garlic, ginger, onions, onions, horseradish, etc.