Garlic on European markets: Why a bountiful Chinese harvest doesn’t guarantee low prices?

By: STA Date: 2025. 06. 20. 11:00

Although China is set to record a bumper garlic harvest this year, European consumers should not expect any significant price drops, industry experts warn. Sea freight costs and international trade tensions continue to have a strong impact on prices.

(Photo: Pixabay)

According to Heinz Düpmann, head of a vegetable processing company in Borgholzhausen, Germany, new supplies of Chinese garlic will soon arrive in Europe. “According to preliminary reports, this year’s harvest is around 15-20 percent higher than last year’s, and the quality is also very good,” said Düpmann. Despite this, prices have not collapsed, only slightly below last year’s levels, while products intended for industrial use are already stabilizing.

China remains a key player in the global garlic market, accounting for almost two-thirds of the world’s total production

In addition to European countries, the US and the Asian region are also key target markets for Chinese exports. Düpmann, who recently visited Shandong Province, the center of Chinese garlic production, sees the sector as continuously developing. “Quality assurance and logistics have undergone significant development. It is increasingly common for crops to be stored in central warehouses rather than on farmers’ premises, which significantly improves the quality and predictability of the goods.”

Due to the specifics of the garlic market, turnover typically only begins to increase significantly at the beginning of the second half of the season

The first official estimates of the crop are usually published after the Chinese New Year, in early March, but after that the market is often under pressure. “Currently, there is indeed ample supply, but this does not necessarily mean that prices will fall further in the near future,” Düpmann emphasized. One of the main reasons for this is the unpredictability of international maritime transport. Although the situation has improved somewhat in recent months, shipping costs are still high, and global trade tensions, especially the tariff dispute with the United States, continue to cast a shadow over the outlook. “It is impossible to predict how shipping companies will react in the coming weeks. The trade war situation remains a serious risk factor,” the expert added.

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