Summary
Chilean Ambassador to China Mauricio Hurtado said that driven by surging Chinese market demand and global cold chain logistics development, Chile's cherry exports to China in 2023-24 are expected to account for 92% of its total cherry exports, up from 88% in the previous season. Recent weeks have seen a significant increase in exports, totalling 365,968 tonnes, compared to 362,607 tonnes in 2022-23. Cherries have become Chile's second-largest export to China after copper, with annual exports exceeding US$2 billion.
Hurtado noted that trade expansion benefits both economies and creates opportunities to introduce new varieties and a broader range of products to China. Peaches will be launched in China this year, and Coho salmon exports from Chile will follow. Additionally, Chile has resumed exports of poultry and chicken products to China after declaring it free of avian influenza.
To boost exports, Chile's Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) has worked with Shanghai Customs to develop a joint plan to speed up the entry of fresh fruit into Shanghai port, particularly for containers undergoing cold treatment in transit to control fruit fly. China's General Administration of Customs approved a pilot programme for fresh cherries in November 2023, with the first cold-treated containers arriving in Shanghai on 21 January. It currently takes 28 days from Chile to Shanghai.
Driven by the China-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral commercial relations will continue to develop, diversifying into areas such as technical cooperation and service trade. Ding Lixin, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said China's demand for beef, lamb, pork, fruit, wine and dairy products will create opportunities for major exporters including Spain, Ireland, Chile, Argentina and the US. In 2023, China expanded market access for imports of some agricultural products from 51 countries and regions, with customs signing 156 cooperation documents with foreign partners, 84 of which related to Belt and Road partners.
The success of Chilean cherry exports is inseparable from the deep cooperation between the two countries in cold chain logistics, inspection and quarantine, and customs clearance facilitation, which have effectively shortened transit times and maintained fruit quality. Ambassador Hurtado emphasised that Chile will continue to diversify its export categories to China, with new products like peaches and salmon expected to quickly capture market share. Meanwhile, the joint plan between Chile and Shanghai Customs offers a replicable model for agricultural exports from other countries, particularly cold treatment solutions for phytosanitary issues like fruit fly.
Researcher Ding Lixin pointed out that China's market opening presents huge opportunities for global agricultural exporters, but competition is intensifying, and businesses need to focus on changing Chinese consumer preferences and the rapid growth of e-commerce channels. Overall, the growth in Chile's cherry trade is a microcosm of deepening bilateral relations and offers lessons for other agricultural exporting countries.
Commentary
The strong growth of Chilean cherry exports to China is both an inspiration and a caution for New Zealand SME owners. On one hand, it validates the huge potential of China's premium fruit market—Chile's cherry exports exceed US$2 billion annually, with a rising share, proving that if product quality is excellent and cold chains are efficient, access to the Chinese market is sustainable. New Zealand, as an exporter known for quality agricultural products (such as kiwifruit, apples, avocados, lamb, dairy products, etc.), can certainly learn from Chile's experience: actively participate in China Customs' trade facilitation pilots (e.g., fast clearance for cold-treated containers), leverage cooperation channels under the China-Chile FTA and the Belt and Road Initiative, and strengthen alignment with Chinese authorities on inspection and quarantine mutual recognition and cold chain logistics.
In particular, the prevalence of e-commerce allows New Zealand businesses to bypass intermediaries and reach Chinese consumers directly—unthinkable a decade ago, but now the norm. On the other hand, competition cannot be ignored: Chile has not only consolidated its cherry position but also plans to promote new products like peaches and salmon, and has resumed poultry exports. This means New Zealand products will face more competing items from the Southern Hemisphere in the Chinese market.
For instance, New Zealand's summer fruit season overlaps with Chile's; without differentiation in varieties, brand storytelling (e.g., 100% Pure New Zealand), and sustainability certifications, market share may be eroded. Additionally, the article notes that China expanded agricultural market access for 51 countries in 2023; although New Zealand already enjoys FTA advantages, other suppliers (e.g., Spain, Ireland, Argentina) are also actively positioning, and the 'crowding effect' of market access could push up marketing costs. For SMEs, two points are critical: first, take advantage of supply chain optimisation opportunities from China's Belt and Road cooperation, such as reducing costs via China-Europe rail or dedicated cold-chain sea routes; second, focus on niche markets like organic, functional fruits, or customised packaging to avoid direct price wars.
The Chilean cherry case also reminds us that trade facilitation measures (like Shanghai Customs' fast clearance for cold-treated containers) can significantly boost competitiveness; New Zealand businesses should proactively contact NZTE or China Customs to inquire about similar pilot programmes. In summary, the core signal from this news is: Chinese consumers' appetite for high-quality imported fruit is far from saturated, but competition has shifted from 'availability' to 'excellence'. If New Zealand SMEs want a slice, they must excel in supply chain efficiency, product innovation, and brand localisation.
Keywords: Chilean cherries, exports to China, market demand, cold chain logistics, trade facilitation, China-Chile FTA, agricultural market access, fruit trade, competitive opportunities, New Zealand SMEs
Summary in Chinese | 摘要
智利驻华大使毛里西奥·胡尔塔多表示，受中国市场需求飙升和全球冷链物流发展推动，2023-24年度智利对中国的樱桃出口预计占其樱桃出口总额的92%，高于上一季的88%。最近几周出口大幅增加，总计365,968吨，而2022-23年度为362,607吨。樱桃已成为智利对华出口第二大产品，仅次于铜，年出口额超过20亿美元。
胡尔塔多说，贸易扩张不仅使两国经济受益，还为向中国引进新品种和更广泛产品创造机会。今年将在中国推出桃子，并出口智利Coho三文鱼。此外，智利已恢复向中国出口家禽和鸡肉产品，此前宣布无禽流感。
为增加出口，智利农畜服务局与上海海关合作制定联合计划，加快新鲜水果进入上海港口的速度，特别针对运输中冷处理的集装箱，以控制果蝇。中国海关总署2023年11月批准新鲜樱桃试点计划，首批冷处理集装箱于1月21日运抵上海。目前从智利到上海需28天。
在中智自贸协定和“一带一路”倡议推动下，两国商业关系将继续发展，技术合作和服务贸易等多样化。中国农科院研究员丁立新表示，中国对牛肉、羊肉、猪肉、水果、葡萄酒和乳制品的需求将给西班牙、爱尔兰、智利、阿根廷和美国等主要出口国带来机会。2023年中国扩大了从51个国家和地区进口部分农产品的市场准入，海关与外国合作伙伴签署156份合作文件，其中84份与“一带一路”合作伙伴相关。
智利樱桃出口的成功离不开两国在冷链物流、检验检疫、通关便利化等方面的深度合作，这些措施有效缩短了运输时间并保证了水果品质。胡尔塔多大使强调，智利将继续丰富对华出口品类，未来桃子、三文鱼等新品有望迅速打开市场。同时，智利与上海海关的联合计划为其他国家的农产品对华出口提供了可复制的模式，特别是针对果蝇等植物检疫问题的冷处理解决方案。
丁立新研究员指出，中国市场的开放为全球农产品出口商提供了巨大机遇，但竞争也日趋激烈，企业需要关注中国消费者的偏好变化和电子商务渠道的快速发展。总体而言，智利樱桃贸易的增长是中智双边关系深化的缩影，也为其他农产品出口国提供了借鉴。
Commentary in Chinese | 评论
智利樱桃对华出口的强劲增长，对新西兰中小企业主而言，既是启发也是警示。一方面，这验证了中国高端水果市场的巨大潜力——智利樱桃年出口额超20亿美元，且占比持续攀升，说明只要产品品质过硬、冷链畅通，便能源源不断进入中国市场。新西兰作为同样以优质农产品（如猕猴桃、苹果、牛油果、羊肉、乳制品等）著称的出口国，完全可以借鉴智利的经验：积极参与中国海关的贸易便利化试点（例如冷处理集装箱快速通关），利用中智自贸协定与“一带一路”框架下的合作通道，加强与中方在检验检疫互认、冷链物流等领域的对接。
尤其是电子商务的普及，让新西兰企业能跳过中间环节直达中国消费者——10年前不可想象，如今却是常态。另一方面，竞争不容忽视：智利不仅巩固了樱桃地位，还计划推广桃子、三文鱼等新品，且已恢复家禽出口。这意味着新西兰产品在中国市场将面临更多来自南半球的同类竞品。
例如，新西兰的夏季水果上市窗口与智利有重叠，若不在品种差异化、品牌故事（如纯净新西兰）和可持续发展认证上下功夫，可能被智利产品挤压份额。此外，文章提到中国2023年扩大了51个国家的农产品准入，新西兰虽已享有自由贸易协定优势，但其他供应国（如西班牙、爱尔兰、阿根廷）也在积极布局，市场准入的“拥挤效应”可能推高营销成本。对中小企业而言，需关注两点：一是利用中国“一带一路”合作带来的供应链优化机会，例如通过中欧班列或海运冷箱专线降低成本；二是聚焦细分市场，比如有机、功能性水果或定制化包装，避免正面价格战。
智利樱桃案例还提醒我们，贸易便利化措施（如上海海关的冷处理快速通关）能显著提升竞争力，新西兰企业应主动联系新西兰贸易发展局或中国海关，了解是否有类似试点项目可申请。总之，这条新闻的核心信号是：中国消费者对高品质进口水果的胃口远未饱和，但竞争已从“有没有”变为“好不好”。新西兰中小企业若想分得一杯羹，必须将供应链效率、产品创新和品牌本土化做到极致。
关键词: 智利樱桃, 对华出口, 市场需求, 冷链物流, 贸易便利化, 中智自贸协定, 农产品准入, 水果贸易, 竞争机遇, 新西兰中小企业
Source: NetEase
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