BEIJING: China’s apple imports are expected to jump nearly 50% over last year to 100,000 metric tons, while pear and table grape imports are also on the rise according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Pear imports will increase more than 20% to 12,000 tons for the year ending June 2016, with grape imports up about 10% to 250,000 tons, the USDA Global Agricutltural Information Network (GAIN) report estimated Nov. 16.
Washington apples regained access to China in October 2014 after the country lifted an import suspension where quarantine pests were at issue. As a result, China’s apple imports nearly doubled in 2014-2015. The U.S. is China’s second largest apple supplier, trailing Chile.
With the suspension gone and new U.S. varieties allowed access, Washington and other producers will regain import market share previously lost to New Zealand and Australia, according to the USDA. The dominant U.S. varieties in China are red delicious, gala and granny smith.
Holidays are the main marketing occasions for apples in China, the report finds, with gift packages targeting that demand.
China’s own apple production is forecast to rise 5% to 43 million metric tons. Late mature fujis account for nearly 70% of that.
Although overall import volume remains much smaller for pears than grapes or apples, it’s growing as Chinese consumers become more aware and accepting of Western pears, which differ from Asian counterparts. The U.S. has been the largest pear supplier to China since gaining market access in 2013.
The increase in grape imports is coming largely from increased volumes arriving during the local offseason, according to the USDA. Chile remains China’s largest grape supplier and Peru has replaced the U.S. as the second largest.
The import tariff for Peruvian grapes will come to zero this year, which is expected to further boost grape imports from Peru.
China’s downturn and consumption
China’s widely reported economic woes have cut into prices as well as income. Produce consumption is holding its own, at least in major cities, the report found.
Shanghai, for one, imports about $23.6 million to 28.3 million of fresh fruit, increasing nearly 40% annually per customs data.
“As a result of the economic slowdown, fruit prices have all decreased from the previous year,” the USDA report said. “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.”
