Since 2001, China's mushroom canned exports have been showing a steady growth momentum year by year; but last year (2006), the total volume of Chinese mushroom canned exports has declined.

 

 

 

In 2006, China exported 303,120 tons of canned mushrooms, down 3.5% from 315,570 tons in 2005.

 

 

 

In 2006, Europe suffered from a decline in mushroom production, resulting in a strong demand for canned mushrooms in China.

 

 

 

The United States, too, has suffered from bad weather during the same year, and its mushroom production has fallen sharply, so its demand for canned mushroom products in China should also increase.

 

 

 

In 2006, however, the total number of canned mushroom imports from China was 35,645 tons, down 5% from a year earlier. It is believed that this is due to a large reduction in the output of Chinese mushrooms in 2006.

 

 

 

A Chinese industry insider said he didn't know what caused China's mushroom production to decline in 2006. However, due to the appreciation of China's currency and the increase in labor costs, the price of mushroom products has risen slightly (by a few percentage points).

 

 

 

However, a European trader has different views on this.

 

 

 

He believes that the decrease in mushroom production in China during the 2005/06 season was due to high temperatures in some provinces of northern and northwestern China, such as Shandong and Sichuan provinces.

 

 

 

He also mentioned that in southern China, mushroom raw materials have also been slightly reduced, due to a reduction in planting area there.

 

The status quo of export objects (Russia)

 

 

 

Russia, the largest export market for canned mushrooms in China, was one of the few countries that imported canned mushrooms from China last year (2006).

 

 

 

In 2006, Russia imported 52,535 tons of canned mushroom products from China, an increase of 23% over 42,625 tons imported in 2005.

 

 

 

However, in 2005 and 2004, China's total exports of canned mushroom products to Russia increased by 82.5% and 91%, respectively.

 

 

 

Although the total volume of canned mushroom exports in China has increased, the rate of increase has shown signs of slowness.

 

 

 

A German trader thinks that the actual quantity of canned mushrooms imported by Russia may be much more.

 

 

 

Because the amount of China's exports to Estonia, Moldova, Lithuania, and Romania (part of it) should also be added to Russia's import figures (which are ultimately re-exported to Russia, which is the largest part), because that would reflect a more realistic picture.

 

 

 

In other EU countries, such as the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia, there is no re-export problem.

 

 

 

But in 2005, the three countries imported 46.5%, 46% and 90% less canned mushrooms from China than in 2004.

 

 

 

In the first four months of 2004, these countries imported large quantities of canned mushroom products from China, but imports have fallen sharply since they joined the European Union on May 1, 2004.

 

 

 

Industry insiders in Germany have noted a decline in the number of canned mushroom imports from these countries; this shows that there are some strategies between the new and old members of the European Union.

 

 

 

That is to say, cheaper imports are introduced into the EU's tax-free trade structure before tariffs are imposed on new EU members, because there will be tariff problems after joining the EU.

 

 

 

In the Netherlands, import tariffs are zero, or close to zero, and the Netherlands has a large number of import licences; the Dutch import canned mushroom products and then re-export to other countries in Europe.

 

 

 

In recent years, the number of canned mushrooms imported from Holland is increasing.

 

 

 

Because the Netherlands is a major port to Europe, there are many imports from here into Europe; at the same time, the Netherlands is also a large transit point.