China’s 2023 Fruit Import and Export Statistics Released

According to a report recently published by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, China’s fruit imports maintained their ascending trajectory throughout 2023. Over the course of the year, China imported 7.52 million metric tons or $16.85 billion worth of fruit, representing year-on-year increases of 3% and 15%, respectively, compared with 2022. Meanwhile, fruit exports from China in 2023 totaled 3.87 million metric tons and $4.98 billion, corresponding to year-on-year increases of 19% and 8%, respectively. Notably, 2023 marked the first year since 2020 in which China’s fruit imports and exports both experienced growth.

Imports

The top 10 fruit exporters to China in 2023 by export value were Thailand ($7.06 billion, +12% YOY), Chile ($3.2 billion, −4% YOY), Vietnam ($2.84 billion, +123% YOY), the Philippines ($640 million, −4% YOY), New Zealand ($600 million, −5% YOY), Peru ($500 million, −12% YOY), Australia ($280 million, +33% YOY), Malaysia ($270 million, +29% YOY), South Africa ($250 million, −4% YOY) and Indonesia ($220 million, +5% YOY).

The top-performing fruit categories in descending order of import value were fresh durians, fresh cherries, frozen durians, bananas, mangosteens and coconuts. Together, these six categories accounted for 76% of China’s total fruit imports in terms of value.

Fresh durians

As the top-ranking item, fresh durians boasted an import value of $6.72 billion (+66% YOY) and a volume of 1.43 million metric tons (+73% YOY) in 2023. After securing official market access to China in July 2022, fresh Vietnamese durians (493,000 metric tons, +1,100% YOY) swiftly acquired approximately 35% of the market share, causing that for fresh Thai durians (929,000 metric tons, +18% YOY) to plummet from 95% to 65%.

Fresh cherries

In 2023, the import value of fresh cherries was second only to that of fresh durians, totaling $2.65 billion (−4% YOY). Meanwhile, the import volume was 347,000 metric tons (−5% YOY). Specifically, imports from Chile amounted to $2.55 billion (−5% YOY) and 334,000 metric tons (−7% YOY), accounting for 99% of China’s fresh cherry imports.

Frozen durians

Thailand remained the primary supplier of frozen durians to China in 2023, with shipments totaling approximately $770 million (+19% YOY) and 108,000 metric tons (+12% YOY). Following Thailand was Malaysia with an export value of $270 million (+34% YOY) and a volume of 25,000 metric tons (+47% YOY). Reports indicate that standards for frozen durian exports from Vietnam to China will soon be introduced, which should lead to even more robust competition on the Chinese market.

Bananas

China’s banana imports in 2023 reached a value of $1.08 billion (−7% YOY) and a volume of 1.77 million metric tons (−2% YOY). The Philippines (686,000 metric tons, −5% YOY), Vietnam (506,000 metric tons, +8% YOY), Ecuador (266,000 metric tons, +33% YOY) and Cambodia (263,000 metric tons, −22% YOY) were the main suppliers, which collectively accounted for approximately 97% of the total volume.

Mangosteens

The import figures for mangosteens stood at 242,000 metric tons (+16% YOY) and $730 million (+16% YOY) in 2023, with Thailand (207,000 metric tons, +13% YOY; $620 million, +14% YOY) and Indonesia (35,000 metric tons, +36%; $110 million, +31%) the key suppliers.

Coconuts

China’s coconut imports in 2023 totaled 1.18 million metric tons (+10% YOY) and $580 million (+2% YOY), with Thailand (589,000 metric tons, +13% YOY), Indonesia (364,000 metric tons, +13% YOY) and Vietnam (223,000 metric tons, +1% YOY) the main suppliers.

Exports

The top 10 overseas markets for Chinese fruit in 2023 in terms of export value were Vietnam ($1.23 billion, +3% YOY), Thailand ($600 million, −10% YOY), Indonesia ($550 million, −2% YOY), Hong Kong ($390 million, −3% YOY), the Philippines ($320 million, +3% YOY), Russia ($260 million, +44% YOY), Malaysia ($210 million, +0% YOY), Kyrgyzstan ($210 million, +163% YOY), Bangladesh ($180 million, +0% YOY) and the United States ($170 million, +0% YOY). The most exported fruit categories in 2023 included fresh apples, citrus (including mandarins and satsumas), fresh table grapes, fresh pears and grapefruit.

Fresh apples

In 2023, China exported 796,000 metric tons (−3% YOY) or $970 million (−7% YOY) worth of fresh apples, with the main export destinations being Vietnam (143,000 metric tons, −1% YOY; $148 million, −21% YOY), Indonesia (112,000 metric tons, −28%; $148 million, −22% YOY), Thailand (107,000 metric tons, −7% YOY; $147 million, −10% YOY), the Philippines (98,000 metric tons, −8% YOY; $126 million, −7% YOY) and Bangladesh (102,000 metric tons, −12%; $101 million, −18% YOY).

Citrus (including mandarins and satsumas)

China’s exports of citrus (including mandarins and satsumas) in 2023 hit 832,000 metric tons (+41% YOY) and $850 million (+19% YOY). Vietnam (268,000 metric tons, +40% YOY), Kyrgyzstan (106,000 metric tons, +172% YOY), Indonesia (84,000 metric tons, +4%), Russia (70,000 metric tons, +233% YOY), the Philippines (65,000 metric tons, +25% YOY), Thailand (52,000 metric tons, −19% YOY) and Malaysia (49,000 metric tons, −22% YOY) were the main destinations.

Fresh table grapes

China’s fresh table grape exports in 2023 amounted to 483,000 metric tons and $810 million, with Thailand (120,800 metric tons, +10% YOY), Vietnam (112,700 metric tons, +11%) and Indonesia (83,000 metric tons, +26% YOY) the key overseas markets.

Fresh pears

In 2023, China exported 479,000 metric tons or $540 million worth of fresh pears. The main export destinations were Indonesia (149,000 metric tons, −7% YOY; $141 million, −3% YOY), Vietnam (104,000 metric tons, +13% YOY; $118 million, +5%) and Thailand (40,000 metric tons, −13% YOY; $53 million, −10% YOY).

Grapefruit

The export figures for grapefruit reached 191,000 metric tons (+38% YOY) and $170 million (+39% YOY) in 2023. The key overseas markets included the Netherlands (61,392 metric tons, +28% YOY) and Russia (52,385 metric tons, +57% YOY).

Image: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.