Core Insights - Shandong Province is a major agricultural exporter in China, leading the nation in agricultural product exports with a total export value of 804.7 billion yuan in the first half of 2023, reflecting a growth of 3.5% [3][4] - The province has 21 brands included in the National Agricultural Brand Boutique Cultivation Program, the highest in the country, and 171 brands listed under the "Good Products Shandong" brand [3] Export Performance - The main categories of agricultural exports, including vegetables, seafood, and fruits, have shown strong growth, with vegetable and edible fungus exports reaching 206.8 billion yuan (up 1%), seafood at 175.9 billion yuan (up 16%), and dried and fresh fruits and nuts at 50.3 billion yuan (up 20.1%) [3][4] - Ten out of 16 cities in Shandong reported positive growth in agricultural exports, with Zaozhuang and Weihai showing growth rates of 19.2% and 12.1%, respectively [4] Market Expansion - Exports to major markets such as Japan (161.9 billion yuan, up 2.2%), ASEAN (137.7 billion yuan, up 6.6%), and the EU (117 billion yuan, up 4.1%) have all increased [4] - Emerging markets have also seen significant growth, with exports to the Arab League, Africa, Central Asia, and India growing by 28.1%, 33.8%, 38.5%, and 32.6%, respectively [4] Business Dynamics - A total of 6,082 enterprises engaged in agricultural exports were recorded, an increase of 522 from the previous year, with private enterprises accounting for 5,527 of these, contributing 644.6 billion yuan in export value [4][5] - The provincial government is focused on enhancing the agricultural value chain and promoting deep integration of agricultural production and processing, which has led to a continuous increase in agricultural export value for 26 years [5][6] Value Addition - The average export price of dried garlic reached 24.3 yuan per kilogram, significantly higher than the 9 yuan per kilogram for fresh garlic, indicating a successful strategy in increasing the value of agricultural products [5] - The government is implementing measures to facilitate agricultural exports, including promoting AEO certification for food processing enterprises and providing support for companies entering international markets [5][6]