How much is matsutake mushroom per jin? What challenges does Yunnan's matsutake export trade face?

The places where matsutake grows most abundantly are Sichuan, Yunnan, Nyingchi and other areas. The growing conditions for matsutake are quite unique; it needs to grow in forests where pine trees and gravel trees are mixed together, and it cannot be cultivated artificially. That is why its price is even higher. So next, let's take a look with the editor at how much matsutake costs per jin and what challenges Yunnan's matsutake export trade faces.

1. How much is matsutake per jin?

Because matsutake is so expensive, everyone pays special attention to its price. In July, August and September, the price of fresh matsutake on the market ranges from 300 to 900, and there are plenty of examples costing over a thousand per kilogram. The price of matsutake mainly depends on the actual condition of the matsutake. It is determined by the shape of the matsutake, whether the cap has opened, whether insects have bitten it, and other specific conditions. There are also many types of matsutake; the prices of dried matsutake, skin-on dried matsutake and peeled dried matsutake slices are all different.

Dried matsutake: (the price is relatively stable and remained basically unchanged from January to May 2018; as for how prices will move after a large amount of matsutake comes onto the market in July and August, it still depends on this year's matsutake output.)

Skin-on dried matsutake, 1500 yuan/kg;

Peeled dried matsutake slices, about 1100-1600/kg;

Yunnan matsutake includes those with good quality and high output.

2. What challenges does Yunnan's matsutake export trade face?

A single target market and export type

Japan accounts for a relatively high share of Yunnan matsutake imports, with 94% of matsutake exports going to Japan. Japan is the main target market for Yunnan matsutake exports, while imports from countries such as South Korea, Singapore and Thailand account for only 6%, forming a relatively single target market. A single target market causes Yunnan's matsutake export trade to rely too heavily on Japan's import demand. When Japan's economic situation is better and demand for matsutake increases, export volume rises; conversely, export volume decreases. Matsutake is exported in three types: fresh or chilled matsutake, frozen matsutake and salted matsutake. Data from the past 15 years show that fresh or chilled matsutake accounts for 83% of exports, meaning Yunnan's matsutake exports are mainly fresh or chilled matsutake, which is also a relatively single export type market. A single export type is affected by buyer preferences and competitors' bidding power. When buyers' preference for primary matsutake products decreases, Yunnan matsutake loses its competitiveness, leading to large-scale waste of matsutake; when competitors have stronger bargaining power, Yunnan matsutake also loses its original market share. Both a single target market and a single export type lead to the shrinking of Yunnan's matsutake export trade.