
URUMQI, June 23 -- China has seen a significant rise in licorice root imports from Central Asia this year.
A total of 4,043 tonnes of licorice root worth 5.2 million U.S. dollars, have been imported via Horgos on the China-Kazakhstan border in the first five months in 2015, according to the Xinjiang Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau on Tuesday, doubled last year's amount.
China imported about 22,000 tonnes of the licorice via the port in 2014 with a value of 27 million U.S. dollars, it said.
Licorice root is widely used in medicine, food processing and daily chemicals. The international supply of licorice root does not meet demand.
As Central Asian countries, especially Kazakhstan, abound with high-quality licorice root, China's pharmaceutical companies have flocked to Horgos to purchase the herb.
China has had a duty-free policy on licorice root since 2008.
Students take graduation photos in ancient costumes
Forbidden City collects evidence from nude photo shoot
Dragon boat race held to celebrate upcoming Duanwu Festival
Chinese students learn Duanwu customs in Hefei, Anhui
Abandoned village swallowed by nature
Graduation: the time to show beauty in strength
School life of students in a military college
Top 16 Chinese cities with the best air quality in 2014
Mysterious “sky road” in Mount Dawagengzha
Dialogue key to set future China-US course
New PLA campaign targets new recruits: Land Force
Migrant workers encouraged to start own firms
New route for Indian pilgrims hailed as sign of warming tiesDay|Week