Chile, the largest fruit exporter in the southern hemisphere, has enormous export potential to the Chinese market thanks to the fact that the growing seasons of the two countries are opposite. The harvest in Chile takes place when winter comes to the northern hemisphere, a time when the Chinese market never has a sufficient national supply of seasonal fruits.

The Chilean cherry harvest begins every year in November and continues until January or February of the following year, around the Chinese Spring Festival (February 12, 2021). And Chinese consumers love Chilean cherries.

The Chilean cherries export season has already officially opened. The first volumes have already arrived in China and the feedback from the market is excellent. Importers are eager to buy and their enthusiasm is driving prices up. The price is relatively high at the beginning of the season, like last year, as the supply of high-quality fruit is still limited, but also because much of the first Chilean cherries are transported by air.

“Chilean cherry growers are excited about the Chinese market. The current price, more or less the same as last year, is more than reasonable. However, the price of air freight is too high, so we will switch to sea freight soon. The shipment of the first containers will start in week 48, which will arrive in China in week 50 (December 18, 2020). The first cherries to reach the Chinese market are of the Santina variety, which is quickly followed by Lapin, Bing and Regina," explains Chen Zhiwei of Guangzhou Jiaguoyuan Import and Export Trading Co., Ltd.

The Chilean cherry orchards have not suffered natural disasters this year and the volume of production has increased. The first Chilean cherries on the Chinese market this year are doing quite well, but that is not always an indication of what the market conditions will be later in the season. It is difficult to predict how the market will develop, especially this year.

“Although the COVID-19 outbreak is under control in China, the rest of the world is still suffering from this pandemic, which is having a huge impact on the world economy and also on the Chinese economy. In addition, China has temporarily halted the import of some fruits to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus, which naturally has an impact on the fruit industry. In addition, the Chilean cherry harvest is highly dependent on migrant workers, whose mobility is now limited to try to stop the spread of the disease. This is one of the biggest challenges for the Chilean cherry industry this year," says Chen Zhiwei.

Jiaguoyuan Import and Export sells Chilean cherries in wholesale markets, e-commerce platforms, and specialized greengrocers, but most of them are sold in wholesale markets. The company has many Chilean partners, including El Álamo, whose cherries will arrive in China in January. The two companies have worked together for several years and, in addition to Chilean cherries, El Álamo also supplies blueberries and apples to the Chinese market.