China's Candle Exports Pivot to Emerging Markets & Eco-Wax As EU and US duties squeeze traditional markets, China's candle exports are shifting gears. The industry expects full-year 2026 export value of roughly US$1.45 billion, up 5.3%, with growth driven mainly by emerging markets — and although export volume fell more than 20% in the first seven months, the product mix is upgrading fast: scented and natural-wax candles are taking record shares in a clear "value over volume" shift. Emerging markets take the baton In 2026, exports to Southeast Asia are expected to reach about US$420 million (+12.7% YoY) and to Latin America about US$280 million (+10.3%), offsetting the EU's decline. In 2025, the EU still accounted for 38.7% of export value and the US 29.3%, with other RCEP members at 17.4%. Competition is intensifying too: Vietnam has become the world's third-largest candle exporter (about US$776 million in 2024), and Southeast Asian candle trade on Alibaba.com surged 533% year on year — putting pressure on China's OEM/ODM-heavy exporters. Scented and natural-wax candles break records Premium categories are becoming the new engine. In 2025, natural-wax candle exports rose 21.6% and exceeded 60% of total export value for the first time, while paraffin candle exports fell 19.3%; scented candle exports topped US$300 million. Globally, the scented candle market surpassed US$700 million in 2026 (CAGR ~4.2% over 2023–2031), and demand for sustainable soy-wax candles in North America and Europe is growing at a CAGR of about 8.2%. Costs and compliance: price pressure meets green barriers On costs, refined palm wax prices climbed from about RMB 9,800/tonne at end-2025 to RMB 12,450/tonne in June 2026, up roughly 27%, driven by crude oil and supply-side factors. Domestic supply is responding: soy wax capacity reached 86,000 tonnes (+10.3%), and the three main clusters — Zhongshan, Yiwu and Nantong — now localize over 89% of natural wax base materials, cushioning import costs. On compliance, the 23rd REACH amendment adds restrictions on synthetic musks and certain phthalates, raising documentation and SDS requirements for EU-bound shipments. Outlook The global candle market is projected at about US$7.71 billion in 2026, with Europe still accounting for roughly 35% of consumption — the long-term demand base stays solid. Analysts say the way forward is twofold: deepen emerging markets in Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East to sidestep tariff peaks, while pivoting toward scented, eco-wax and custom craft candles to move from "selling products" to "selling brands" — and bank the structural dividend of a higher-value export mix.   www.zycandle.com www.zycandlefactory.com Email: betty@kangdecandle.com Whatsapp: +86 18732960113 Wechat: 15690355727

African Candle Market Remains Active: Is It Time to Plan Your Next Order? Candle Industry Insight | September 2026 Demand for candles in African markets continues to attract attention from international candle suppliers and buyers. Recently, our factory has received more wholesale orders, with shipments to African customers accounting for an important part of our current production and export schedule. For many African wholesalers, importers and distributors, candles remain an important everyday and commercial product. White candles, tea lights, taper candles, pillar candles and religious candles are among the products regularly purchased in bulk. At the moment, our production schedule is relatively busy due to multiple orders being processed at the same time. This is also a useful reminder for buyers who are preparing their next container shipment: early communication can make production and shipping planning easier. For wholesale orders, the final price depends on factors such as candle size, weight, packaging, quantity, customization and destination. Instead of relying on an old quotation, buyers can contact us directly and provide their latest requirements. We can then check the current factory price according to the actual order details. If you are looking for a reliable candle supplier in China and have an upcoming purchasing plan for Africa or other international markets, now is a good time to start checking your options. Whether you need standard candles or customized packaging for your own brand, we can discuss your requirements and provide a quotation for bulk orders. Planning to purchase candles soon? Send us your required candle size, quantity, packaging and destination. We will check the latest price and production arrangement for you. The earlier you confirm your purchasing plan, the easier it is for us to reserve production capacity and coordinate the shipment schedule. Direct Contact Website: www.zycandle.comWebsite: www.zycandlefactory.comEmail: betty@kangdecandle.comWhatsApp: +86 18732960113 WeChat: 15690355727