Core Insights - The Chinese herbal medicine market is experiencing a significant price decline due to increased supply and weakened demand, marking a systemic adjustment across the industry [1][3][4] Price Trends - The average trading price of six major herbal medicines in Dingxi, Gansu Province, has dropped to 61.54 yuan per kilogram, a decrease of 1.07% from the previous week, continuing a six-week downward trend [2] - The price index for Sanqi has fallen to 135.94 points, down 30.9% from 196.77 points at the beginning of the year [2] - The overall Chinese herbal medicine price index has decreased by 28.5% since July 2024, reaching a new low of 1605.27 points [3] Supply and Demand Dynamics - The oversupply in the market is attributed to a significant increase in planting area driven by previous high prices, with an expected total output of 5.8 million tons against a demand of 5 million tons, resulting in a surplus rate of 16% [4][5] - The demand side is weak, with traditional Chinese medicine enterprises facing pressure from national procurement policies, leading to a conservative purchasing strategy [5] Market Behavior - Speculative trading in niche herbal products has led to drastic price corrections, with some products like Cat's Claw dropping over 90% from their peak prices [5] - Regulatory interventions and the implementation of quality management standards are reshaping the market, pushing non-compliant products out of formal channels [6][7] Future Outlook - The current price decline is expected to persist until at least the end of 2025, with further increases in low-priced varieties anticipated as production peaks [7]