China’s garlic export market experienced a seasonal slowdown in May 2026, with both export volume and value declining under the combined pressure of weaker overseas demand, inventory depletion in key markets, and the transition between old and new garlic supply.
According to customs data, China exported 168,900 tons of garlic in May 2026, down 29.09% month-on-month and 4.44% year-on-year. Export value also fell sharply to US$196 million, reflecting both lower shipment volumes and declining average export prices.
From January to May 2026, cumulative garlic exports reached 1,017,400 tons, indicating a weaker overall trend compared to the same period last year. The slowdown in May was primarily driven by the end of Ramadan-related stockpiling in Southeast Asia, reduced import quotas in key markets such as Indonesia, and increased competition from alternative low-cost suppliers including Egypt and Argentina.
At the same time, China’s domestic supply structure also contributed to downward pressure. High cold storage inventories of old garlic combined with the early arrival of new-season garlic led to aggressive inventory clearing by exporters. This resulted in price competition in international markets and further weakened export value.
Export Structure: Fresh Garlic Dominates, Dried Garlic Shows Resilience
Fresh and chilled garlic remained the dominant export category in May, accounting for 133,500 tons, though this segment saw a sharp month-on-month decline of 33.51%. Dried garlic exports reached 22,200 tons and showed relative resilience, posting year-on-year growth of 27.76%, indicating stable demand for processed garlic products despite overall market weakness.
Other garlic products, including brined, frozen, and processed garlic, totaled 13,200 tons, showing mild declines both month-on-month and year-on-year. Overall, the export structure confirms that while bulk fresh garlic is highly seasonal, value-added garlic products maintain more stable demand.
Key Export Markets Show Diverging Trends
China exported garlic to 142 countries in May 2026, with Indonesia, Vietnam, and the United States remaining the top three destinations.
Indonesia: 30,400 tons (-33.22% YoY)
Vietnam: 22,000 tons (+0.6% YoY)
United States: 15,500 tons (+25.14% YoY)
Indonesia, traditionally China’s largest garlic export market, recorded a significant decline due to earlier inventory depletion during Ramadan and tighter import quotas. In contrast, Vietnam maintained stable demand supported by supply shortages and steady foodservice consumption. The United States showed strong growth, driven by limited domestic production and consistent demand from foodservice and processing industries.
These divergent trends highlight a shifting global garlic trade landscape, where demand is increasingly influenced by regional supply cycles and pricing competitiveness.
Shandong Leads Exports but Faces Pressure
At the provincial level, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Henan remained China’s core garlic export regions, accounting for nearly 90% of total exports.
Shandong: 100,000 tons (59.27%, -7.17% YoY)
Henan: 22,900 tons (+0.22% YoY)
Jiangsu: 18,400 tons (+10.76% YoY)
Shandong remained the dominant export hub due to its strong storage and processing infrastructure, but its performance weakened due to low-priced clearance of old garlic and slower drying of new-season crops. Reduced demand from Indonesia also directly impacted export orders from the region.
Meanwhile, Henan showed stable performance driven by red garlic clove exports, while Jiangsu maintained steady growth supported by processing-oriented products for Southeast Asia and East Asia markets.
Market Outlook: June Expected to Mark a Turning Point
Despite the weak performance in May, market expectations for June are more optimistic. Historically, June represents the peak export season for Chinese garlic as new-season supply becomes fully available for export.
Improved drying conditions, increased processing efficiency, and the end of Southeast Asia’s demand lull are expected to support a rebound in export volumes. Additionally, lower prices are likely to encourage restocking from international buyers, particularly in foodservice and processing sectors.
While global competition from other producing countries remains strong, seasonal recovery factors suggest that China’s garlic exports could enter a clear upward phase in June 2026, marking a potential turning point in the annual trade cycle.
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