In 2018, the Shanghai Customs and Excise Department imported 49,400 tons of cherries and the value of goods was about 2.2 billion yuan, an increase of 59% and 38.9% over the previous year. Among them, 37,700 tons were imported from Chile, and the value of goods was nearly 1.6 billion yuan, a substantial increase of 192% and 117.7% year-on-year.
With the natural, out of season, advantage of the Southern Hemisphere and the zero-tariff concessions granted by the China-Chile Free Trade Agreement, the Chilean Cherry has become the star of the imported fruit market in the 2019 New Year's Day Spring Festival in Shanghai and the surrounding Yangtze River Delta market.
Xia Ruifu, director of the European Fruit Marketing Association of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, said that Chile’s flagship red and yellow cherries fit well with the theme of “auspicious red fire” in Chinese New Year’s culture, and it naturally has a good meaning of “happiness and good fortune”. They are hoping the Chinese consumers will love it.
According to the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, in 2017-2018, Chile exported more than 125,000 tons of Chinese cherries, which hit a record high. Exports to China account for more than 85% of Chilean cherry exports, and Chile has become China's largest supplier of cherries.
