JINAN - Getting through the customs clearance procedures of Linyi city, East China's Shandong province, 200 tons of dried ginkgo leaves were shipped to Germany on Dec 12.

It is the 73rd shipment of Chinese herbal medicines exported from Linyi this year.

In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been recognized by foreign consumers for its unique effect on disease prevention and treatment, bringing opportunities for traditional Chinese medicine-related industries.

Located in the Yimeng area, which is home to the Yimeng revolutionary base, Tancheng County is one of the largest production areas for ginkgo leaves in China. Ginkgo leaves are well known in the Chinese herbal medicine market for its efficacy, such as activating blood circulation, alleviating blood stasis, and calming asthma.

Ginkgo leaves are one of the main products of Tancheng Keling Microwave Drying Co Ltd. The company used to export ginkgo leaves to foreign countries like Brazil and the Republic of Korea. Thanks to the guidance of Linyi Customs, the company has upgraded the quarantine treatment and product traceability management in the whole production process. The products' quality has been improved, and the market grew thereafter.

"In the first 11 months of this year, our company exported dried ginkgo leaves worth more than 42 million yuan ($6.02 million), increasing by 83.7 percent year-on-year," said Li Mingguang, the company's manager. According to Li, their products have now been sold to Germany, Ireland, France, and other EU countries.

Data from customs show that a total of 4,746 tons of herbal medicines, including eclipta, osmanthus, and dried bitter gourd, have been exported at Linyi Customs so far this year, growing by 86.04 percent year-on-year.