Classification
Product TypeIngredient
Product FormBotanical extract (liquid, paste/block, or spray-dried powder)
Industry PositionFood and Botanical Ingredient
Market
Licorice root extract is a globally traded botanical ingredient used primarily for flavoring/sweetening and functional formulation in confectionery, beverages, tobacco products, and herbal preparations. UN Comtrade trade data (HS 130212: liquorice sap and extract) indicates exports are concentrated among a limited set of suppliers—particularly France, Uzbekistan, China, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates—while major import demand centers include the United States, China, Germany, France, and Indonesia. Upstream supply depends on roots from Glycyrrhiza species (notably G. glabra, G. uralensis, and G. inflata), including material harvested or processed in Central Asia and northern China. Market access and pricing are strongly shaped by potency standardization (glycyrrhizin assay), contaminant limits, and safety/regulatory scrutiny due to glycyrrhizin’s known physiological effects at higher exposures.
Major Producing Countries- 프랑스Major global exporting hub for liquorice sap and extract in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 우즈베키스탄Major exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023); FAO highlights significant wild foraging and quota governance dynamics for liquorice in Uzbekistan.
- 중국Major exporter and importer in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023); licorice production areas include northern and northwestern China (e.g., Gansu, Inner Mongolia).
- 독일Major exporter and importer in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023), consistent with EU ingredient processing and distribution roles.
- 아랍에미리트Significant exporter and importer in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023), consistent with re-export and trading functions.
Major Exporting Countries- 프랑스Top exporter by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data for liquorice sap and extract (HS 130212, 2023).
- 우즈베키스탄Top exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023); FAO notes wild-harvest importance and quota setting in Uzbekistan.
- 중국Top exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 독일Top exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 아랍에미리트Notable exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 네덜란드Notable exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023), consistent with ingredient distribution hub behavior.
- 미국Exporter in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
Major Importing Countries- 미국Top importer by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data for liquorice sap and extract (HS 130212, 2023).
- 중국Top importer by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 독일Top importer by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 프랑스Major importer by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 아랍에미리트Major importer by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 인도네시아Major importer by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
- 네덜란드Significant importer by value in UN Comtrade/WITS trade data (HS 130212, 2023).
Specification
Major VarietiesGlycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Glycyrrhiza inflata
Physical Attributes- Typically sold as a liquid extract, paste/block, or spray-dried powder for industrial use.
Compositional Metrics- Glycyrrhizin (glycyrrhizic acid) assay is a primary potency/specification marker for food and botanical applications.
- Food-grade specifications may include limits/controls for ash and inorganic contaminants (e.g., acid-insoluble ash, arsenic, heavy metals) depending on destination-market regulation and referenced compendia.
Grades- Food-grade flavoring/sweetening extract (destination-market compliance required; in the United States, licorice and derivatives are addressed under 21 CFR 184.1408).
- Herbal medicinal raw material reference (EU herbal monograph pathway for Liquiritiae radix under EMA).
- Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) extract variants used where reduced glycyrrhizin exposure is desired.
Packaging- Bulk ingredient packaging aligned to physical form (liquid, paste/block, or spray-dried powder) for industrial distribution.
ProcessingWater extraction (maceration/boiling water) followed by filtration and optional purification steps (e.g., acid/ethanol treatment) and concentration; finished forms include liquid, paste/block, or spray-dried powder.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Root sourcing (cultivated and/or wild collection) → washing/slicing/drying → maceration and hot-water extraction → filtration/purification (may include acid/ethanol treatment) → concentration → drying (spray-dried powder) or casting (paste/block) → assay and contaminant testing (e.g., glycyrrhizin, metals) → bulk export/import distribution to food, tobacco, and botanical product manufacturers.
Demand Drivers- Confectionery and beverage flavoring/sweetening demand where characteristic licorice taste is required.
- Tobacco product flavoring use in certain markets.
- Herbal preparations and supplements using licorice-derived extracts (including DGL variants).
Temperature- Generally traded as a shelf-stable ingredient (especially in paste/block and spray-dried powder forms), but quality protection focuses on preventing moisture uptake and managing heat exposure during storage and transport.
Risks
Supply Concentration HighGlobal trade in liquorice sap and extract is concentrated among a small set of exporting countries (notably France, Uzbekistan, China, and Germany in UN Comtrade/WITS data). Upstream supply can be exposed to wild-harvest governance and resource constraints (e.g., quota setting and overharvest concerns noted for Uzbekistan), creating a credible risk of sudden availability or price shocks for buyers dependent on one origin or processor.Qualify multiple origins/processors, require documented traceability for root sourcing (wild vs cultivated), and contract for multi-lot supply with contingency inventory.
Regulatory Compliance HighLicorice extract specifications and allowable use can be tightly regulated and vary by destination market, including assay expectations for glycyrrhizin and referenced limits for contaminants (e.g., metals/arsenic) in certain jurisdictions. Non-compliance can trigger shipment rejection, relabeling, or forced reformulation.Build destination-market compliant specifications (glycyrrhizin assay + contaminant panel) into contracts and verify with accredited third-party testing before shipment.
Food Safety MediumGlycyrrhizin in licorice can cause clinically significant adverse effects at higher exposures (including hypertension and electrolyte disturbances), increasing safety scrutiny for high-potency extracts, concentrated formats, and certain consumer groups. Safety incidents or adverse event clusters can drive rapid regulatory or customer-imposed restrictions.Control and declare glycyrrhizin potency, use appropriate serving-level exposure assessments, and consider DGL options for products positioned for frequent consumption.
Contaminants MediumBotanical extracts can face contaminant risks (e.g., heavy metals/arsenic) that are specifically referenced in some regulatory specifications for licorice and derivatives, making testing and lot-to-lot consistency essential for global trade.Implement routine incoming raw material and finished extract testing aligned to food/pharma-grade standards applicable to the target market.
Sustainability- Wild-harvest pressure and resource stewardship risks in parts of Central Asia (e.g., Uzbekistan), including quota governance intended to prevent depletion.
- Ecosystem and soil disturbance risk associated with root harvesting in arid and semi-arid landscapes.
Labor & Social- Manual, labor-intensive root harvesting can involve informal/seasonal work arrangements with occupational safety concerns.
- Public-health externality sensitivity where licorice-derived ingredients are used in tobacco products, increasing reputational scrutiny for downstream brands.
FAQ
Which countries are major global exporters of licorice (liquorice) sap and extract?UN Comtrade/WITS trade data for HS 130212 (liquorice sap and extract) shows exports are concentrated among a limited group of suppliers, with France, Uzbekistan, China, and Germany among the leading exporters in 2023.
What plant species are commonly used to make licorice root extract?The European Medicines Agency (EMA) inventory for Liquiritiae radix lists Glycyrrhiza glabra, Glycyrrhiza inflata, and Glycyrrhiza uralensis as the botanical sources commonly referenced for licorice root.
Why is glycyrrhizin content a key safety and compliance issue for licorice extracts?Authoritative health references (e.g., NIH/NCCIH and NCBI) note that glycyrrhizin can cause serious adverse effects when consumed in large amounts or over time, which is why buyers commonly specify and test glycyrrhizin potency and may choose deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) options for certain applications.