China’s Fruit Trade Sees Sustained Growth in First Two Months of 2020

Recently released data from the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products indicate that in the first two months of 2020 China imported over 1.02 million tons of fruit with a total value of $2.17 billion, corresponding to an 11% decline in volume and an 8% increase in value compared with the same period of last year. Meanwhile, China’s fruit exports over these two months totaled 0.53 million tons and $0.76 billion, representing year-on-year (YOY) increases of 1% and 8%, respectively.

Imports

The top nine fruit categories by import value during January and February were fresh cherries ($1.17 billion, +32% YOY), bananas ($150 million, −14% YOY), fresh longans ($128 million, −19% YOY), fresh grapes ($97 million, −27% YOY), fresh dragon fruit ($94 million, +66% YOY), fresh cranberries and blueberries ($81 million, +21% YOY), fresh durians ($66 million, −10% YOY), fresh peaches and nectarines ($58 million, +30% YOY) and other fruits ($48 million, +63% YOY). These nine main categories accounted for 87% of the total import value.

Ranked in descending order of value, the top ten exporters of fruit to mainland China during January and February were Chile, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Peru, Ecuador, Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Italy.

Cherries

During January and February, China imported 164,000 tons (+26% YOY) of fresh cherries. The vast majority of these cherries (161,000 tons, +26% YOY) originated from Chile.

Bananas

China’s banana imports in the first two months of 2020 totaled 270,000 tons (−5% YOY). The main source countries for bananas were the Philippines (129,000 tons, −29% YOY), Ecuador (70,000 tons, −6% YOY) and Vietnam (43,000 tons, +113% YOY), which together accounted for 90% of all banana imports.

Fresh dragon fruit

During the first two months of 2020, China imported 109,000 tons (+55% YOY) of fresh dragon fruit.

Fresh cranberries and blueberries

During January and February, China imported approximately 10,000 tons (+31% YOY) of fresh cranberries and blueberries. The main source countries were Chile (9,124 tons, +26% YOY) and Peru (1,533 tons, +67% YOY).

Fresh kiwifruit

China’s kiwifruit imports in the first two months of 2020 totaled 6,602 tons (+51% YOY). Approximately 83% of the total volume (5,489 tons, +41% YOY) originated from Italy.

Fresh Apples

During January and February, China’s apple imports shrank to 3,232 tons (−47% YOY). Apples from the U.S. (2,578 tons, −33% YOY) and France (532 tons, −67% YOY) together accounted for 96% of the total import volume.

Exports

The top eight fruit categories by export value during January and February were citrus (including mandarin oranges and satsuma oranges, $257 million, +2% YOY), fresh apples ($198 million, +25% YOY), fresh pears ($116 million, +79% YOY), fresh grapes ($45 million, −18% YOY), oranges ($21 million, −29% YOY), lemons and limes ($18 million, −13% YOY), other fruits ($16 million, −7% YOY) and grapefruit ($12 million, −53% YOY). These eight categories accounted for approximately 90% of China’s total fruit exports by value.

The top ten markets for China by export value were Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Russia and Kazakhstan.

Fresh apples

Chinese apples are predominantly exported to South Asian and Southeast Asian markets, where many consumers are very sensitive toward price fluctuations. As the price of Chinese apples began to reach normal levels in late 2019, apple exports increased accordingly. During January and February, China exported 154,000 tons (+14% YOY) of apples. The main export destinations were Vietnam (25,000 tons, +56% YOY), Thailand (22,000 tons, −96% YOY), Bangladesh (32,000 tons, +20% YOY), the Philippines (19,000 tons, +35% YOY) and Myanmar (12,000 tons, +101% YOY). These five countries together accounted for 72% of China’s apple exports.

Fresh pears

In the first two months of 2020, China exported 106,000 tons (+94% YOY) of fresh pears. The main export destinations were Indonesia (48,000 tons, +199% YOY), Vietnam (19,000 tons, +93% YOY), Thailand (11,000 tons, +58% YOY), Malaysia (6,000 tons, +43% YOY), the Philippines (4,000 tons, +175% YOY), Myanmar (3,300 tons, +225%) and Hong Kong (3,600 tons, +21% YOY). These seven markets together accounted for 90% of China’s total pear exports.

Citrus (including mandarin oranges and satsuma oranges)

During January and February, China exported 163,000 tons (−18% YOY) of citrus. The main overseas markets were Vietnam (59,000 tons, +18% YOY), Malaysia (27,200 tons, −36% YOY), Thailand (21,000 tons, +38% YOY), Myanmar (26,500 tons, +45% YOY) and the Philippines (6,000 tons, +60% YOY). These five countries accounted for 85% of China’s total citrus exports.

Image: Pixabay

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