Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormFresh
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Commodity GroupMedicinal and aromatic plant (root) traded as industrial/medicinal botanical material
Scientific NameAngelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels
Growing Conditions- Temperate biome cultivation; commonly described as favoring cool, high-altitude mountainous production environments in key Chinese production provinces (notably Gansu).
Main VarietiesAngelica sinensis (dong quai), Angelica archangelica (garden/Norwegian angelica; secondary use/trade)
Consumption Forms- Traditional medicine raw material (roots processed into decoction slices/powder and used in multi-ingredient formulas).
- Extracts and herbal products derived from Angelicae Sinensis Radix.
- Food/flavoring botanical uses for Angelica archangelica (secondary market).
Grading Factors- Chemical marker component profile (commonly referenced: ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide) used in quality assessment approaches.
- Geographical origin reputation (daodi), with Gansu/Min County frequently referenced for premium material.
- Post-harvest processing method (e.g., sulfur-fumigated vs. non-fumigated), due to documented impacts on chemical composition.
Market
Fresh angelica root is a niche root commodity traded globally primarily for medicinal-and-aromatic uses, with Angelica sinensis (dong quai) the dominant commercial species and Angelica archangelica a secondary culinary/aromatic species. Commercial A. sinensis supply is highly concentrated in China—especially Gansu Province (notably Min County)—which creates a single-region exposure for availability and price. In international trade, angelica roots are commonly classified within HS heading 1211 (industrial or medicinal plants), which also aggregates many other botanicals and can limit product-specific visibility in public trade statistics. Market dynamics emphasize origin reputation (daodi), chemical marker-based quality assessment (e.g., ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide), and post-harvest handling practices that can materially affect quality (e.g., sulfur-fumigation).
Major Producing Countries- 중국Angelica sinensis (dong quai) cultivation is concentrated in Gansu Province; Min County is frequently cited as the largest-yield area and a key source for export material.
Major Exporting Countries- 중국Export supply for Angelica sinensis is closely linked to Gansu Province production systems (including Min County) in the established value chain.
Supply Calendar- China (Gansu Province—Min County/Dingxi area):Oct, NovReported harvest season for Angelica sinensis in the primary cultivation region is October–November.
Specification
Major VarietiesAngelica sinensis (dong quai; Radix Angelicae sinensis), Angelica archangelica (garden/Norwegian angelica)
Physical Attributes- Root (radix) is the primary traded plant part for Angelica sinensis in traditional-medicine supply chains.
Compositional Metrics- Ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide are commonly referenced marker components used in quality assessment of Angelicae Sinensis Radix.
- Sulfur-fumigation has been reported to reduce chemical composition and biological properties of Angelicae Sinensis Radix.
Grades- Chinese Pharmacopoeia-based identification and quality assessment approaches are commonly referenced for Angelicae Sinensis Radix (e.g., chromatographic identification; marker components such as ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide).
- Origin-based premium differentiation (daodi) is commonly cited for Gansu/Min County material in the value chain.
ProcessingPost-harvest handling may include drying/curing for storage and distribution; sulfur-fumigation is a documented practice in parts of the value chain and can affect chemical quality.
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest of whole roots (often sold fresh at origin) -> sale to local dealers -> storage and primary processing (e.g., drying; in some cases sulfur-fumigation reported) -> wholesale medicinal-material markets -> downstream users (traditional medicine dispensaries, extractors, and manufacturers of herbal products).
Demand Drivers- Demand from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulations in which Angelica sinensis root is a common ingredient.
- Demand for medicinal-and-aromatic plant materials traded under HS heading 1211, including botanical ingredient channels.
- Secondary demand for Angelica archangelica in food/flavoring applications (culinary/aromatic uses).
Risks
Supply Concentration HighGlobal commercial supply of Angelica sinensis root is heavily concentrated in a single country and region (China’s Gansu Province, with Min County frequently cited as the largest-yield area and a major source of export material). Localized shocks—extreme weather, climate trends, disease pressure, or policy/logistics disruptions—can therefore rapidly constrain availability and destabilize prices for global buyers relying on this origin.Implement origin-traceability and dual-sourcing strategies (where feasible across qualified regions), maintain safety stock for critical formulations, and use tighter supplier specifications aligned to validated origin and quality markers.
Climate MediumResearch on the primary cultivation region frames climate change as a material production risk, with adaptation strategies (including altitudinal shifts) discussed for Angelica sinensis systems. Shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns can alter suitability, yields, and consistency of supply from the dominant production base.Monitor agroclimatic indicators in key origin areas, prioritize suppliers with documented on-farm adaptation practices, and diversify procurement timelines around the main harvest window.
Food Safety MediumPost-harvest sulfur-fumigation is documented for Angelicae Sinensis Radix and has been reported to reduce chemical composition and biological properties, creating compliance and quality risks for exporters and importers (including potential buyer rejection and downstream performance variability for extracts/products).Specify and verify non-fumigated handling where required, test for relevant quality markers and processing indicators, and require documented post-harvest protocols and traceability.
Sustainability- Climate sensitivity in high-altitude production systems for Angelica sinensis in its primary cultivation region, including adaptation pressures (e.g., altitudinal shifts discussed as a resilience strategy).
- Environmental footprint risks tied to localized intensification in a single dominant production zone (regional concentration increases exposure to localized climate extremes).
Labor & Social- Smallholder livelihood exposure in primary production zones where medicinal-crop income dependence is high, increasing vulnerability to price swings and climate-driven yield variability.
FAQ
Where is commercial Angelica sinensis (dong quai) production most concentrated?Published value-chain and production studies commonly identify China as the dominant production country, with Gansu Province—especially Min County—frequently cited as a core cultivation and supply area for Angelica sinensis roots used in trade.
When is the main harvest window in the primary cultivation region?Research focused on the primary cultivation region in Gansu (including Min County) reports the harvest season for Angelica sinensis as occurring in October–November.
What post-harvest practice can materially affect angelica root quality in trade?Sulfur-fumigation has been documented in Angelicae Sinensis Radix supply chains and has been reported in the scientific literature to reduce chemical composition and biological properties, making post-harvest protocol controls and testing important for buyers.