How Did Sweet Potato Starch from Qinhuangdao’s Tongyou Potato Industry Reach South Korea and Vietnam?

At a recent event promoting the supply of "pre-prepared fresh produce" (cleaned and ready-to-cook vegetables) from Hebei Province to Beijing, Qinhuangdao Tongyou Potato Industry Co., Ltd. showcased its sweet potato starch and sweet potato vermicelli. Based in Lulong County, this export-oriented food enterprise has been selling its sweet potato starch to South Korea, Vietnam, and Australia, in addition to serving the domestic market.

Over 30 Years of Dedication to Sweet Potato Starch

The quality of sweet potato starch begins at the source. Tongyou Potato Industry is located in Lulong County—widely recognized in the industry as the "Sweet Potato Capital of China." With approximately 120,000 mu (about 8,000 hectares) of sweet potato cultivation and an annual yield of 250,000 tons of fresh tubers, the company enjoys a stable, local supply of raw materials.

The company, originally founded in 1992 as the Lulong County Shuangli Vermicelli Factory, was renamed in 2017. For over three decades, it has specialized in the deep processing of sweet potatoes. Today, the company’s facilities span 66,600 square meters, with an annual processing capacity of 30,000 tons of fresh sweet potatoes, 7,000 tons of sweet potato starch, and 6,000 tons of vermicelli.

Rigorous Multi-Stage Processing Ensures Starch Quality

Upon arrival at the factory, fresh sweet potatoes undergo a series of processes, including washing, crushing, pulp-residue separation, sedimentation, dewatering, and drying. Tongyou Potato Industry also incorporates a natural sun-drying stage, which helps fine-tune moisture content to meet the specific requirements for export.

Overseas markets have strict standards regarding the purity, moisture content, and fineness of sweet potato starch. Clients in South Korea and Vietnam place a high premium on batch-to-batch consistency; Tongyou Potato Industry organizes its production according to these rigorous standards to ensure that every shipment meets the same quality specifications.

Serving Both Domestic and International Markets

The company currently manages two brands—"Han Er Ge" (憨二哥) and "Shu Zhong Ru Yi" (薯终如1)—encompassing four major product series. Additionally, it has registered the "Yongping Fu" (永平府) brand for its starch products in South Korea.

Its products are sold across the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, as well as in provinces including Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan, Guangdong, and Fujian, while also being exported to South Korea, Vietnam, and Australia. The company is an authorized producer of "Lulong Vermicelli"—a product with a registered geographical indication—and has been recognized as a "Demonstration Enterprise for Agricultural Product Processing" in Qinhuangdao, a "Municipal-Level Enterprise for Agricultural Industrialization," and an "AA-Rated Enterprise for Financial Integrity."

The quality of sweet potato starch is determined by the raw materials, production processes, and quality control. Tongyou Potato Industry consistently excels in these three areas, ensuring a stable supply of products to various regions across China, as well as to overseas markets including South Korea and Vietnam.