According to a recent report 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.

Regarding cherries specifically, 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.

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.