China is an emerging and promising market: in light of the saturation of the European market, the natural sales market for Spanish exports, fruit exporters in the country are looking to diversify. The closure of the Russian market contributed to the problem of supply options, but Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and China are markets showing very positive developments.
Trade with agricultural food products between Spain and China has soared in the past years. In 2014 Spanish export volumes achieved a record sales total of EUR658m. In the second half-year of 2015 this trend has continued with a growth rate in excess of 30%. Meanwhile, China has become the second largest buyer of Spanish export products after the US. Major agricultural products include citrus fruits.
The reason why not more Spanish fruits can be found on Chinese markets is that there are no export protocols. But this could soon change for stonefruit. In November a meeting took place between the General Secretary for Agriculture and Food of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Carlos Cabanas, and the Vice Minister of the General Administration for Quality and Quarantine Inspection (AQSIQ), Zhan Qirong. They discussed the crucial proposals which are currently negotiated between the two nations. These are aimed at opening the Chinese market for Spanish agricultural products, including peaches and plums.
It has been asserted that the export conditions for these products have been practically specified. The protocols will be signed as soon as the Chinese administration has finished internal processing. According to information of the Spanish government Cabernas received the promise from the Chinese side that the export approvals will be available for the upcoming export season.
Sweet fruits are very popular
Catalonia, Spain’s largest growing area with a total annual volume of 400,000 t of peaches, nectarines and plums, has showed great satisfaction at this news. “China is a huge market with a large middle class which is very interesting for us, even if it represents only a small percentage of the population, because they love sweet fruits. For this group which has sufficient spending power imported fruits are very attractive, not only as a status symbol, but also because Chinese value European production systems with regard to quality and food safety,” explains the Catalonian fruit industry association AFRUCAT (Asociación empresarial de fruta de Cataluña).
Plums are travel experts
The largest plum growing area in Spain is Extremadura (95,000 t). The soil and microclimate are ideal for these fruits. Miguel Ángel Gómez-Cardoso Bernet, Director of AFRUEX (Asociación de Fruticultores de Extremadura – association of fruit producers in Extremadura) says, “We have high hopes that we can start exporting to this Asian giant. China is a market with great potential and future prospects for our quality fruits, because plums can survive long transport times and arrive safely in excellent condition.” He adds: “We are now facing the challenge to make our products known there and find our niche in this market which is currently dominated by US products.”
Market for premium products
APOEXPA, the association of producers and exporters of fruits and other products of the Murcia Region, based in Murica, another important Spanish stonefruit growing area, is very satisfied. Joaquín Gómez, president of the association, said: “China is a key buyer of premium products. The market is very interesting for white-fleshed paraguayo peaches (flat round shaped Saturn peaches) because they are very sweet and have a long shelf life. If everything works out as planned, we can soon start to register the relevant lots of land. In spring the Chinese inspectors could come here to check if everything has been correctly implemented so that we would be able to export the first batches per air-freight in June. Transportation of the fruits to the customer lasts 72 hours maximum. Ideally, the fruits can be later transported by sea (28-30 days) or rail (18 days). Spain has worked towards the opening of this market for a long time. Europe is saturated so we need new open doors. At the past Fruit Attraction trade show in Madrid, a delegation of 60 Chinese visitors came to our stand to learn more about our offer in situ. Murcia is also an important producer of grapes (a pioneer for seedless varieties) and cherries. However, no export agreements have been negotiated with China for these fruits. Grapes are, along with apples, the most suitable products for transportation. Let’s hope that we will soon have export protocols for grapes.”
