South Africa has dispatched its first shipment of stone fruit to China, marking a major milestone in agricultural trade and the formal rollout of a new bilateral export protocol.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen and Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng oversaw preparations for the inaugural consignment on Thursday at the Freshness First Packhouse in Franschhoek.
The shipment includes 20,000 cartons of premium plums, primarily of the African Delight and Ruby Star varieties, highlighting South Africa’s ambition to expand its presence in Asia’s largest consumer market.
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According to Business Insider Africa, the consignment follows a recent agreement granting South African stone fruit duty-free access to China, which imports roughly $200 billion in agricultural products annually.
Currently, South Africa accounts for just 0.4 percent of that market, leaving substantial room for growth.
Steenhuisen called the development a “pivotal moment for the country’s fruit industry,” adding, “The Chinese market is a strategic necessity, not merely an opportunity for South Africa’s agricultural resilience.”
He noted that the new access could help protect exporters against tariff pressures in other markets.
Officials say Pretoria aims to double the current export value of R400 million, about $21 million at current exchange rates, within four years.
The industry is reportedly well-positioned to meet China’s strict quality and volume requirements.
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Image Credit: Food for Mzanai
