Cordyceps export volume decreased significantly year-on-year

China's export of Cordyceps sinensis was 1,255 kg in 2011, a year-on-year decrease of 44.25%; the value of exports was 2,800.46 million US dollars, a year-on-year decrease of 27.85%.

In 2011, while exports of Cordyceps drastically decreased, the export price reached 22,553.49 U.S. dollars per kilogram, a year-on-year increase of 29.40%. The main reason is that the climatic factors led to a decline in production last year. In addition, due to environmental changes and excessive collection, the species of Cordyceps has been increasingly threatened.

Export market situation

From the perspective of export regions, Hong Kong and Singapore in China are the main areas for the export of Cordyceps sinensis in China. According to statistics from China Customs, China's export of Cordyceps to Hong Kong in 2011 was 1,188, a decrease of 46.51% year-on-year, but export prices rose by 30.43% year-on-year, accounting for 96.32% of China's total exports of Cordyceps sinensis.

Export provinces and cities distribution

China's Cordyceps sinensis resources are distributed in five provinces of Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Gansu, and Gansu. Among them, the collection volume of the two provinces in Qing and Tibet accounted for more than 80% of the total collection volume in the country. From the perspective of the export situation of various provinces and cities, Chongqing, Sichuan, and Qinghai are the provinces and cities with large exports of Cordyceps sinensis in China.

In 2011, China exported 9 Cordyceps sinensis enterprises, of which one was a wholly foreign-owned enterprise, and eight were privately-owned enterprises. Its export accounted for 98.27% of China's external exports of Cordyceps sinensis.

Expected reductions in Cordyceps exports and prices to remain high for some time

Cordyceps sinensis grows only on meadows above the snow line of 3500 meters above sea level on the Tibetan Plateau. It is precisely because of its special growth environment that there has been no breakthrough in artificial cultivation. In recent years, people have paid more and more attention to health. Resource reduction and price increase have become inevitable.

According to experts, Cordyceps is a renewable resource. To ensure the sustainable use of Cordyceps resources, three conditions are required: First, climatic conditions, second, adequate bacterial sources, and third, stable ecological environment. As long as the situation of excessive and unscientific collection is changed, Cordyceps resources may gradually recover. However, at present, the reduction in Cordyceps's export volume and the maintenance of high prices may continue for some time. (Huo Wei China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Medicines and Health Products)