【财经分析】中药材价格“过山车” 震荡冲击中医药产业链稳定

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese herbal medicine market has experienced extreme price fluctuations over the past two years, resembling a "roller coaster," which disrupts the stability of the industry chain and harms the interests of farmers, enterprises, and patients. There is a call for enhanced price monitoring and market regulation to promote stable development in the industry [1]. Price Volatility - The price of cat's claw grass has seen dramatic fluctuations, rising from 70-80 yuan per kilogram to 1100 yuan in March 2023, and then plummeting to 46 yuan [2]. - Major herbs like astragalus, codonopsis, and angelica have also seen average price declines of about 40%, with prices for codonopsis dropping from 120 yuan to around 50 yuan per kilogram [2]. - The China Traditional Chinese Medicine Price Index indicates a continuous decline in herbal prices since July 2024, following a significant increase of 31% from 1702.86 points to 2227.69 points in the previous year [2]. Industry Challenges - Farmers face high risks due to information asymmetry and "blind planting," leading to losses when prices drop after a period of high prices [4]. - For instance, a farmer in Gansu reported a loss of 800 yuan per mu due to low yields and high costs [4]. - The volatility in prices disrupts production and operational rhythms for herbal medicine companies, leading to rapid devaluation of inventory and profit erosion [4]. Calls for Improvement - The industry is urged to enhance quality, control production volume, and extend the value chain to stabilize the market [5]. - Legal measures are being implemented to protect local herbal varieties, such as the new regulations in Gansu aimed at establishing a traceability system using IoT and blockchain technology [6]. - There is a push for increased organizational capacity within the industry, promoting cooperative models to improve risk resistance and market stability [7]. - Branding strategies are recommended to elevate the value of herbal products, drawing on successful practices from other industries [7].