New trade agreement opens Chinese market for South African stone fruit

Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, accompanied by Ambassador Wu Peng of the People’s Republic of China, visited the Freshness First Packhouse in Franschhoek on Wednesday, where the first shipment of stone fruit was prepared for export to China.

The Department said that the visit focused on the dispatch of approximately 20,000 cartons of premium plums, primarily consisting of the African Delight and Ruby Star varieties.

“This shipment marks the official commencement of the stone fruit trade protocol, a move set to transform the local deciduous fruit industry,” he said. 

Minister Steenhuisen said that the opening of this Chinese market is no longer just an aspiration, but a fundamental necessity for South Africa’s economic growth.

“Today, the Chinese market is a strategic necessity, not merely an opportunity for South Africa’s agricultural resilience. This is a milestone that Ambassador Peng and I have worked toward together, and today I am happy that we have realised it,” he said. 

Steenhuisen added that this export comes at a time following the signing of a bilateral trade agreement that grants South African produce 0% tariff access to the Chinese market. “This agreement significantly enhances the competitiveness of local farmers on the global stage.”

The Department said with China importing approximately $200 billion in agricultural products annually, South Africa currently holds a modest 0.4% market share.

“South Africa aims to drastically increase this figure, targeting a doubling of the current R400 million export value over the next four years,” it said.

Minister Steenhuisen said that South Africa does have the capacity to provide the quality and quantity of fruit that consumers in China will enjoy.

“The implementation of this stone fruit protocol will offset the immediate impact of tariffs imposed by other trading partners, particularly on plums. I am confident that our volumes into the Chinese market are going to increase tremendously,” he said.

Steenhuisen added that the stone fruit shipment is the first phase of a broader expansion strategy. “The government is in the final stages of concluding the protocol for cherries, and later in the year, the protocol for blueberries. I thank the industry leaders, growers, and packhouse staff for their tireless efforts in meeting the rigorous phytosanitary standards required for this breakthrough.”

Dawie Maree, head of information and marketing at FNB Agriculture, said that this is positive news for the South African fruit industry.

“The industry, a highly export-dependent industry, tried for years to gain access to the Chinese market. Given the size of the Chinese market, it is an important one for any exporting country. Expanding to the Chinese market is also important in the strategy to diversify our market access and not be as highly dependent on our traditional export markets. It will be even better to expand the list of products that have market access,” he said. 

BUSINESS REPORT