Ningxia Goji Berries Gain Global Reach As Industry Expands

KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 (Bernama) -- The Ninth Goji Berry Industry Expo officially kicked off in Zhongning County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as farmers began harvesting the first goji berries of 2026.

Goji berries are widely cultivated across China, but Ningxia goji berries are renowned for their exceptional quality and have become the region's most distinctive agricultural speciality. Zhongning, the core production area, enjoys more than 3,000 hours of annual sunshine.

The weakly alkaline soil, formed by the convergence of the Yellow River and Qingshui River, is rich in essential minerals and trace elements, creating favourable conditions for goji cultivation.

In China, Ningxia goji berries have long been valued as both a medicinal and edible product. They are the only goji variety officially listed for medicinal use in the Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, according to a statement.

The berries have gained growing international recognition due to their high vitamin C content and antioxidant properties, and are increasingly marketed globally as a "superfood".

To preserve nutrients, fresh goji berries undergo cleaning, pulping, sterilisation and canning within two hours after harvest. This process helps retain key nutrients, including goji polysaccharides, betaine and zeaxanthin.

According to the Goji Industry Development Center of the Ningxia Forestry and Grassland Administration, Ningxia's goji marketing network now covers more than 50 countries and regions. In 2025, fresh goji berry output reached 200,000 tonnes, while the value of the entire industry chain exceeded 21.3 billion Chinese yuan. (100 Chinese yuan = RM60.09)

While technology-driven companies such as Ningxia Wolfberry continue expanding their presence in international supply chains, emerging players are reshaping consumer perceptions of goji berries beyond their traditional use as a medicinal herb.

Ningxia Qilixiang Goji Co Ltd, a leading e-commerce company in the sector, is focused on promoting goji products to younger consumers. The company has developed a variety of blended purees, such as goji-ginseng, red date-goji and mulberry-goji, and operates about 200 online stores, consistently ranked first in e-commerce sales of goji products.

The development of Ningxia's goji industry reflects efforts to move up the value chain through technology, product innovation and cultural branding, transforming a traditional agricultural product into a diversified export-orientated industry.

-- BERNAMA