What are the main downstream demand segments for fennel oil in China?

What are the main downstream demand segments for fennel oil in China?
Fennel oil consumption in China is overwhelmingly food-driven rather than medicinal. Annual fennel seed usage reaches about 20,000 tonnes, with roughly 15,000 tonnes going into food processing—instant noodles, ham sausages, vacuum-packed meats and hotpot seasoning. Major condiment producers like Wangshouyi alone consume over 1,000 tonnes of fennel seeds annually. Pharmaceutical use is minor, appearing in only 36 proprietary Chinese medicines, with key products being kidney-tonifying syrups and medicinal wines. Exports to South Korea, Japan and Hong Kong absorb about 3,000 tonnes of seeds. Beyond food, fennel oil fractions feed into toothpaste, mouthwash, soap and incense products, though these volumes remain small relative to culinary uses. The aroma industry overall is growing at 4% annually, with China's fragrance market reaching roughly $1.58 billion in 2020, suggesting gradual upside for higher-grade oil fractions.