山东胶州市已成为全球最大的辣椒进出口集散地，尽管本地几乎不种植辣椒[1]。该市通过掌握种业研发、加工装备和贸易流通等关键环节，年交易量达到120万吨，出口量占全国辣椒出口总量的80%以上[1]。
胶州辣椒产业拥有强大的自主创新能力[1]。市内拥有78个自主登记辣椒品种[1]，2004年问世的"红龙13号"品种填补了国内自主加工型辣椒育种的空白[1]。聚集在该市的300余家辣椒加工企业中，72家拥有出口权，25家年销售收入超过1亿元[1]。胶州企业布局的种植基地超过300万亩，带动80余万人就业，每年为农民增收48亿元[1]。
该产业正在实现产业方案输出的升级[1]。2024年7月，上合国际绿色农产品博览交易中心投用[1]。胶州通过上合示范区平台，将完整的产业方案输出到土耳其等国，2025年计划在土耳其落地500亩跨境订单种植基地[1]，同年向欧盟出口约100万吨原料[1]。
Jiaozhou, a small city in Shandong Province, has become the world's largest distribution hub for chili peppers despite producing virtually none locally.[1] The city handles an annual trading volume of 1.2 million tons, with exports accounting for over 80 percent of China's total chili pepper exports.[1] Through strategic control of seed research and development, processing equipment, and trade logistics, Jiaozhou has transformed itself into an indispensable node in the global chili supply chain.[1]
The city's dominance extends across the entire value chain. Jiaozhou has registered 78 proprietary chili pepper varieties and maintains seed production of 70,000 pounds annually.[1] The industrial ecosystem encompasses more than 300 processing enterprises, of which 72 hold export licenses and 25 generate annual sales revenues exceeding 100 million yuan.[1] The company-managed cultivation bases span over 3 million acres nationwide, supporting employment for more than 800,000 people and generating 4.8 billion yuan in annual agricultural income.[1] A landmark moment came in 2004 with the development of the "Red Dragon 13" variety, which filled a gap in China's indigenous breeding of processing-type chili peppers.[1]
Looking forward, Jiaozhou is transitioning from exporting raw materials to exporting complete industrial solutions.[1] The Shanghai Cooperation Organization International Green Agricultural Products Exhibition and Trading Center began operations in July 2024, serving as a platform for this expansion.[1] In 2025, the city will establish a 500-acre cross-border contract cultivation base in Turkey, while exporting approximately 1 million tons of raw materials to the European Union.[1]