Lian Shan Southern Red Agate: Premium Raw Material Supply Tightens, Market Prices Poised for Sustained Increase

Liangshan, Sichuan, October 26, 2023 – Recent developments in the mining of premium raw materials for Southern Red Agate in Liangshan, Sichuan – a pivotal production hub – are drawing widespread attention across the industry. According to in-depth field research by our reporter and various consolidated reports, the output of high-quality Southern Red Agate raw materials in the Liangshan region is showing a downward trend. This shift is expected to have a profound impact on the entire Southern Red Agate market, signaling a potential sustained increase in future prices.

Southern Red Agate, with its warm texture, rich red hue, and inherent scarcity, holds a significant position in Chinese jade culture. As one of its most crucial origins, Liangshan's raw material supply directly influences downstream processing, retail, and even collectible markets. Preliminary estimates indicate that the mining volume of high-quality Southern Red Agate rough stones in the Liangshan area has decreased by approximately 15% to 20% year-on-year over the past year. While these figures are initial estimates, they sufficiently reflect the severe reality of increasingly scarce resources.

Professor Zhang Hua, a senior jade appraisal expert and council member of the Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China, stated in an interview with our newspaper, “The formation of Southern Red Agate requires an extremely long geological process, and the distribution of its premium veins is inherently highly limited. After years of intensive mining, some easily accessible and high-quality mining sites have gradually become exhausted. Mining is now becoming increasingly difficult, and costs are rising accordingly, directly leading to a tight supply of premium raw materials in the market.” Professor Zhang further emphasized that this resource scarcity is irreversible, and the value of high-quality Southern Red Agate will become even more prominent in the future.

Market data shows that influenced by the tightening supply from the origin, the average price of Liangshan Southern Red Agate rough stones has already seen an increase of 5% to 10% in recent months, with premium rough stones of excellent appearance and suitable size experiencing even higher surges. Industry insiders generally believe that with the approaching traditional consumption peak seasons like the Chinese New Year, market demand will further expand, and the sustained tightness in supply will inevitably drive prices higher.

For downstream processing enterprises, the rising cost of raw materials has become the biggest challenge. Li Ming, head of a Southern Red Agate carving studio in Suzhou, stated, “Our studio has very high standards for raw material quality. It's becoming increasingly difficult to find a good-quality, crack-free Liangshan Southern Red rough stone, and the price is significantly higher than six months ago. We are forced to consider adjusting product pricing to cope with the continuously increasing costs.”

Looking ahead, the Southern Red Agate market is expected to exhibit the following trends:

  • Sustained Price Increase: The scarcity of premium raw materials will be a long-term trend, providing ample impetus for price appreciation.

  • Enhanced Collectible Value: The investment and collectible value of high-quality Southern Red Agate will further increase, becoming a focal point for collectors.

  • Upgraded Processing Techniques: To maximize the utilization of limited premium raw materials, processing enterprises will focus more on meticulous carving and creative design, enhancing product added value.

  • Origin Traceability and Certification: As market attention to authenticity and quality grows, origin traceability and authoritative certification will become significant competitive advantages.


In conclusion, the tightening supply of premium raw materials for Liangshan Southern Red Agate is a result of the combined effects of its natural resource attributes and the intensity of market extraction. This represents not only a challenge for the industry but also a re-evaluation of the value of Southern Red Agate. For consumers and investors, understanding current market dynamics and making rational investments will be a wise approach.