China opens market to South Africa’s stonefruit ahead of Lunar New Year 2026

On 14 November 2025, China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) published the phytosanitary requirements for five South African stonefruit categories: peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and European plums (Prunus domestica), known locally as “sugar plums.” The move follows the signing of the market-access protocol on 15 October.

Exports may start once China updates its list of authorised South African exporters. The timing aligns with the 2026 Lunar New Year period, a key sales season in China.

South Africa’s next objective is to secure access for fresh cherries and blueberries, with negotiations expected to conclude in 2026.

Industry data indicates that South Africa has around 16,000 hectares of stonefruit production, with an export window from October to March or April — a slot that supplies China during its winter and spring.

For the 2025–26 season, fresh peach exports are forecast to rise 3% to 1.94 million 2.5-kg cartons. Nectarines are projected to surge 18% to 12.26 million cartons, while apricot exports are expected to decline 3% to 720,000 cartons (4.75 kg). Fresh plum shipments are forecast to edge up 2% to 15.10 million 5.25-kg cartons.

China has listed 15 quarantine pests of concern, including false codling moth, Mediterranean fruit fly, mango fruit fly and Cydia pomonella. Exporting orchards must operate under strict quality-control and traceability systems overseen by South Africa’s Department of Agriculture, and must follow good agricultural practices and integrated pest-management techniques.

Packing facilities must sort fruit carefully and remove any damaged or contaminated produce. To control fruit fly and codling moth, consignments must undergo cold treatment or fumigation under official supervision.

Cold treatment requires pulp-core temperatures of –0.6°C or below for at least 22 consecutive days. Fumigation must be carried out above 21.1°C using 32 g/m³ for at least two hours, with concentrations staying above 26 g/m³ after 30 minutes and above 16 g/m³ after two hours.

source: frutasdechile.cl

photo: fodmapeveryday.com