On October 23, Xining Customs announced that during the first three quarters of 2024, Qinghai Province’s export of cordyceps reached 170 million yuan (approximately $24 million), marking a staggering 130% increase compared to the previous year, making it the top exporter in China.
Cordyceps, often referred to as “soft gold,” accounts for 98% of the world’s production of this fungus, with over 60% originating from the Qinghai region.
During an interview, local vendor Wu Suhua shared insights on the market dynamics, stating, “This year, the price of cordyceps has significantly increased compared to last year. For instance, we sold five 1-gram pieces for 880 yuan, which is a 120 yuan increase from last year.”
According to data from Xining Customs, the total export value of agricultural products from Qinghai Province in the first three quarters reached 390 million yuan, up 180% year-on-year, which accounted for 14.7% of the province’s total foreign trade exports, representing a 7.7 percentage point increase over the previous year.
Zhu Xueying, Deputy Director of Xining Customs, emphasized the province’s strong export performance, noting, “In the first three quarters of this year, exports of highland specialty agricultural products from Qinghai have seen rapid growth across various categories. In addition to cordyceps, the export of frozen trout reached 140 million yuan, an eightfold increase, making it the number one in China as well.”
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