In 2009, the total cherry production in China was 184,300 tonnes, and the acreage was around 57,600 hectares. Shandong is China’s largest cherry producing province. Because of high profit potential, cherry production expanded in recent years and this trend is expected to continue into the foreseeable future. This does not come without risks, as cherry trees require more attention than other crops (particularly since it takes 5 years before a tree bears fruit) and are sensitive to poor weather.

According to the Chinese Customs, in 2009, China imported 6,183 tonnes of cherry, an 84% increase compared with 2008. The average price was US$6.02/kg, a 9% decrease compared with 2008. The top three countries exporting cherries to China was Chile (3,818 tonnes); US (2,342 tonnes); and NZ (21 tonnes). The key ports are Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing, Dalian.

The actual volume of imported cherry is much higher than the official data. For example, the US Cherry Advisory Board advised that the US exported 8,000 tonnes of US Cherries in 2009, worth US$22.8 million. In 2009, New Zealand cherry to HK for re-exports to China was 7.3 tonnes, which makes the total New Zealand cherry exports to China to 9.4 tonnes. Although cherry production in China is increasing rapidly, it is unlikely to impact cherry imports because the local supply season is short and does not overlap with the supply period of imported cherries. Chile will likely remain the top supplier of imported cherries to China, given the lower tariff and because Chile’s supply season coincides with the Chinese New Year, when consumption of imported fruit reaches its peak. New Zealand cherry is likely to play a bigger role in the Chinese market for similar reasons to Chile. Cherry consumption has grown rapidly in larger metropolitan cities, but distribution is limited as the fruit is fragile and can not be transported very far due to limitations in the cold chain system. As a result, cherry prices are generally higher than other fruit and are considered a luxury item by many Chinese consumers. Colour preference also affects sales. For instance, southern Chinese prefer
purple cherries while northern consumers like red cherries. Yellow cherries are extremely popular in Dalian. Around 80% of US cherries are sold at large retail stores, while the rest retail at traditional wet-markets or smaller vendors.

Many industry contacts believe that, in the next few years, the imported cherry market in China will continue to experience market growth. Imported cherries have become a new popular purchase among high-end consumers in big cities and the economic recession seems to have had limited impact on the import growth of cherries. As the fruit continues to gain popularity among China’s middle-class consumers, a new trend emerging for cherries is the gift market. More and more, Chinese consumers are purchasing imported cherries to give as gifts during Chinese holiday like the spring Festival (Lunar New Year). Consumers traditionally choose other less expensive, more shelf stable imported fruit such as apples and oranges.

Fruit distributors said that the best season for imported cherry is January to February in China. Chinese people like to buy gifts before or during the Chinese New Year (usually in January and February) and cherry has an image of high end fruit in China thus a good gift choice. One Beijing
fruit distributor said that the imported cherry market size in Beijing for the period of Chinese New year is about 30 x 40' containers.

Fruit opportunity: Cherry