Dole Delivers Debut Batch of South African Avocados to China

On the morning of Oct. 10, the first container of South African avocados to reach China arrived at the Shanghai Huizhan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market. Dole China, together with the Huizhan market and Shanghai Jinyun Trading Co. Ltd., hosted a ceremony to celebrate the shipment’s arrival and mark the beginning of South African avocado sales in China.

The journey of South African avocados to the Chinese market started over a year ago in August 2023, when South African Minister of Agriculture Thoko Didiza and Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi signed an agreement allowing exports of the fruit.

The first batch of South African avocados, farmed by Westfalia Fruit and marketed in China by Dole, arrived at Shanghai’s Yangshan Port on Oct. 8. The imported fruit successfully passed the phytosanitary inspection, orchard and packhouse number review, testing for pests such as the Mediterranean fruit fly and other requirements stipulated by China Customs.

A Dole China representative told Produce Report that Chinese retailers who attended the event expressed enthusiasm about the first batch of South African avocados. The fruit reportedly arrived at the Huizhan market in good condition and on-site testing indicated dry matter contents reaching 30% and above, surpassing that of Mexican avocados. When cut in half, the avocados revealed a creamy yellow texture, which is another indicator of a rich taste.

Owing to South Africa’s unique climate, avocados cultivated there typically possess a rich, creamy texture similar to those from Mexico and Peru. However, compared with avocados from other origins, those from South Africa feature a distinctly buttery and nutty flavor, which is ascribed to regional variations in soil and weather.

South Africa has a relatively long avocado-producing season on account of the planting locations spanning diverse latitudes and altitudes. The season can last from late March until the end of September, much like in Peru.

In addition to avocado quality, the transportation time from South Africa was emphasized at the event. Shipping from South Africa is notably faster than that from Peru, China’s current primary source of avocados. The average journey time for Peruvian avocados is about 40 days, which significantly reduces the shelf life of the fruit upon arrival. Thus, Dole believes that South Africa may serve as a viable alternative to the countries already exporting their avocados to China.

With respect to packaging, the first shipment was a combination of 4-kilogram standard carton boxes containing larger fruits (18–24 avocados per box) and plastic crates containing smaller fruits (26–28 avocados per crate). Dole stated that the debut batch would be offered through wholesalers, retailers and e-commerce channels.

South Africa’s avocado output is expected to reach 20 million boxes in 2024. Prior to entering the Chinese market, 90% of avocados grown in South Africa were exported to Europe, followed by Middle Eastern countries.

According to Rabobank, global avocado output increased at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 7% over the past decade, reaching more than 8.4 million metric tons in 2022. Mexico currently leads the world in avocado production, accounting for over 30% of total output, followed by Colombia, Peru and Kenya, all of which are witnessing consistent growth in avocado production. Rabobank projects that global avocado exports will top 3 million metric tons by 2025.

Driven by the nutritional value and purported health benefits of the fruit, avocado consumption in China has been growing year after year. In 2023, China’s avocado imports reached 65,600 metric tons, with the import value climbing to $150 million. This represented a more than twofold increase over the 32,600 metric tons imported in 2019, with an average compound annual growth rate of 19.1%, according to China Customs.

The countries that currently supply avocados to the Chinese market include Peru, Chile, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Colombia and the United States, among others. According to data from China Customs, Peru is the biggest supplier of avocados to China, accounting for over 76% of all imports. Chile, Kenya and Mexico come next on the list.

During the event, Li Yang, sales director at Dole China, noted that the company presently handles avocados from seven countries and regions, including domestically grown fruit. The preparations for the introduction of South African avocados to the Chinese market began as early as last August when the export agreement was finalized.

Dole, one of the leading brands in the fruit industry, strives to provide high-quality fruits to Chinese consumers. Since entering the Chinese market in 1998, Dole has opened more than 10 processing and logistics hubs across the country. The company uses modern avocado ripening technologies to supply consumers with the fruit at the required level of maturity.

Images: © 2024 Produce Report

This article was based on a Chinese article. Read the original article.