China’s Honey Pomelo Exports Surge in 2025 Amid Rising Global Demand

In the 2025 production season, China’s honey pomelo exports are showing strong growth in terms of both volume and quality, fueled by expansion into emerging markets and the adoption of new, early-maturing, high-quality varieties. According to industry forecasts, exports are projected to reach a record 250,000 metric tons in 2025, a 25% increase from the previous year.

Fujian’s Pinghe County, China’s largest honey pomelo export base, is expected to ship 25,000 metric tons this year, representing 10% of national exports. A single company, Pinghe Fuyi Agricultural Products, has secured 15,000 metric tons of orders from Germany, the Netherlands and other European markets — a 150% increase from last year. In Guangdong’s Songkou town, the Zhongxin Cooperative exported 2,000 metric tons to Russia and the European Union. Meanwhile, in Dubai supermarkets, premium gift-boxed Chinese pomelos target high-end consumers, with individual fruits priced at over $10 each.

Europe remains the largest export destination for Chinese pomelos, accounting for 45% of total exports. Germany and the Netherlands show the highest overall demand, with a preference for bitter-sweet white pomelos. Exports to the Netherlands have grown by 30% this year, with wholesale prices for premium fruit ranging from $1.12 to $1.28 per kilogram. North America accounts for 25% of total exports, with consumers in the United States and Canada favoring red-fleshed varieties like the Sanhong (“Three Red”) pomelo.

By 2026, China’s pomelo exports are forecast to surpass 300,000 metric tons, with emerging markets — led by Russia and New Zealand — rising to 35% of the total. Buyers in Moscow have already purchased 1,000 metric tons in their first phase, with volumes expected to grow to 5,000 metric tons by 2026. In New Zealand, Chinese exporters are shipping a new early-maturing strain of white pomelos that ripens 30–40 days earlier than standard varieties and helps fill the July to September supply gap. Prized for its juicy, sweet flavor, this variety retails at about $5.62 per kilogram and commands a premium of roughly $1.70–2.00 over regular pomelos.

Even with a positive export outlook, Chinese pomelos face mounting international competition. Vietnam is advancing in Southeast Asia with a low-price strategy, selling pomelos at about $0.34 per kilogram — only 60% of the price of comparable Chinese fruit. In 2025, Vietnam plans to export 500 metric tons to South Korea, potentially diverting around 10% of China’s orders. Thailand, meanwhile, is enhancing its competitiveness through varietal improvement, most notably the “Hangwan” pomelo, which has a soluble solids content of 11.7% and strong storage performance, posing another potential challenge to China’s market share.

In addition, the September to October typhoon season may disrupt exports from Fujian and Guangdong. If extreme weather occurs again, production could drop by an estimated 10%, potentially increasing export prices by 5–8%. Fluctuations in the Chinese yuan against the euro and U.S. dollar could also erode export profits, testing exporters’ risk management capabilities.

Image: Pixabay

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