NEW YORK: China’s apple imports are expected to increase 50 per cent to 100,000 tonnes in 2015/16 compared to the previous season, according to the latest USDA Gain report.
While Chile remains the leading supplier of apples to China, the increase in imports is expected to come off the back of China giving market access to all US apple varieties earlier this year.
With educational programmes in the works to boost consumers awareness of newer varieties such as Honey Crisp, the USDA report has forecast that US apples will regain their import market share that had been lost to other suppliers, such as Australia and New Zealand.
Pear imports are expected to be up 20 per cent to 12,000 tonnes due to the increase in consumer awarensess of Western-style pears, with the US remaining the largest supplier.
Grape imports, meanwhile, are forecast to grow 10 per cent to 250,000 tonnes with Chile remaining the top supplier. Peru has overtaken the US as the second largest supplier, with further growth expected as Peru’s import tariffs drop to zero under its free trade agreement with China.
Overall, China’s consumption of fruit is expected to continue its upward trend aided by dietary changes, though the slowing GDP growth has been cited for limiting the growth of fruit consumption in some demographics.
“As a result of the economic slowdown, fruit prices have all decreased from the previous year,” the USDA report stated. “On the other hand, consumption of imported fruit continues to increase at a fairly quick pace in large cities aided by the development of e-commerce which targets mainly the consumers with higher disposable income and young professionals.”
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