China’s Cherry Imports Set To Reach 600,000 Tons in 2025/26

According to the China: Stone Fruit Annual report recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, China’s cherry production for the 2025/26 season (April to March) is expected to see a 6% increase to 900,000 metric tons, driven by an expanding planting area and improved crop management. Greater investment and better growing techniques have also led to higher fruit quality. As a high-value crop, cherries continue to yield significantly higher profit margins than most other fruits.

China’s total cherry cultivation area reached 199,000 hectares in the 2024/25 season and is expected to increase further to 205,000 hectares in 2025/26. While planting areas remain stable in traditional production regions such as Shandong and Liaoning, expansion is underway in other provinces like Sichuan and Xinjiang. Although natural conditions in these two provinces are less favorable, greenhouse cultivation has driven the development of local cherry industries. The main variety grown under cover is Meizao (Bing, a popular early-ripening variety), while the share of Russian No. 8 and Summit is steadily increasing. For open-field cultivation, farmers tend to prefer Meizao, Russian No. 8, Brooks, Kordia, Lapins and Rainier. There is strong demand among growers for varietal upgrades, and new varieties continue to be introduced. In Sichuan, for instance, local breeders have developed three new cultivars — Shuzaomei, Shuzimei and Shuguimei — known for their early ripening, long shelf life and high yields. Other emerging varieties, such as Rocket and Linglongcui, have also entered the market, although current production volumes remain limited.

In recent years, increased market supply has led to a steady decline in cherry prices. The concentrated harvest and market release of major domestic varieties such as Meizao have caused short-term supply surges, putting additional pressure on retail prices. In the 2024/25 season, an oversupply of Chilean cherries triggered a sharp drop in prices, further compressing margins for domestic cherries, particularly those grown in greenhouses. For instance, a greenhouse grower in Dalian reported that his Meizao cherries were purchased at around 70 Chinese yuan ($9.75) per kilogram, a 15% decrease from the previous season. With the Chilean cherry supply expected to continue growing, prices may fall further in the 2025/26 season. Nonetheless, large, high-quality cherries can still fetch a premium, while smaller fruit generally sells at a discount.

Driven by increased global and domestic supply, a longer availability window and improved fruit quality, cherry consumption in China is growing rapidly. Chinese consumers have consistently shown strong demand for fresh cherries, with rising expectations for quality, favoring varieties that are large, dark-colored, firm and high in sugar content. With the development of the e-commerce sector and improvements in cold chain logistics, imported cherries have penetrated lower-tier cities and are increasingly becoming a part of everyday fruit consumption.

China’s cherry imports have exhibited consistent growth in recent years, rising from 388,000 metric tons in the 2023/24 season to 552,500 metric tons in 2024/25, with projections indicating a further rise to 600,000 metric tons in 2025/26. Owing to its large supply volume and perfect alignment with the Chinese New Year sales window, Chile has long dominated the Chinese cherry market. The zero-tariff policy under the China–Chile Free Trade Agreement, coupled with historically strong profit margins, has led to over 90% of Chile’s cherry exports being shipped to China. In the 2024/25 season, Chilean cherry exports to China surged by 44% year on year, and an even larger volume is expected in 2025/26.

Image: Pixabay

This article was based on a Chinese article. Read the original article.