October 15, 2025, will be remembered as a game-changing day for South Africa’s fruit exporters. In Shanghai, a new trade protocol was signed with China, a move set to unlock exceptional opportunities for the stone fruit industry. This isn’t just any trade deal; it’s a strategic gateway into one of the world’s most dynamic and demanding consumer markets.
The protocol brings five key South African stone fruit varieties into direct trade discussions with China: apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums, and prunes. For an industry striving to expand beyond familiar markets, this marks a significant step forward.
Trade deals with China are usually a slow, piece-by-piece process. This agreement breaks the mold by bundling five stone fruit categories into a single protocol, a first in China’s trade negotiations. This streamlined approach promises faster access and reduced barriers for South African exporters.
But signing the protocol is just the beginning. The General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) will soon conduct thorough on-site inspections of orchards and packhouses here in South Africa. These inspections are crucial—they will set the phytosanitary and packing standards exporters need to meet for export approval.
You might notice cherries didn’t make the initial five-fruit cut. Here’s the key: during the protocol signing, GACC extended a separate invitation to inspect South Africa’s cherry orchards and packhouses, crucially, during the current harvest season.
That invitation carries urgency. The cherry season is short, typically kicking off in November and wrapping by January. Cherry exporters face a narrow window to host inspections, clear technical hurdles, and potentially secure full access for the upcoming season.
Preparation is essential. GACC inspectors will scrutinise pest management practices, packhouse hygiene, cold-chain integrity, and traceability systems the backbone of fruit quality and safety assurance. Exporters must be ready to meet these exacting standards.
Starting internal audits now is the smartest move. Ensuring your farm and packhouse documentation is thorough and your processes align with Chinese requirements will smooth the path to approval.
Post-approval, the clock keeps ticking. With perishables and a tight harvest window, exporters need robust logistics strategies that combine expedited sea freight and air freight options based on certification timing.
Partnering with proven logistics experts, such as DHL’s Reefer Foods service, can make all the difference. Their global reach and experience handling delicate cargo guarantee your fruit arrives in China fresh, on schedule, and ready for market.
The potential payoff is significant. Market specialists estimate this new access to China could bring in around R400 million over five years, possibly doubling to R800 million within a decade, and creating nearly 1,000 new jobs. The first season alone (2025/26) might generate R28 million, climbing to R54 million in the following year.
China’s demand for stone fruit like peaches and plums already exceeds what South Africa currently produces, signaling a wealth of growth potential.
While the opportunity is exciting, it’s important to stay grounded. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to diversify amid evolving trade dynamics and tariff challenges elsewhere. Market access isn’t guaranteed overnight; inspections, approvals, and final certifications take time.
Here’s a simple timeline for cherry exporters:
October 15, 2025: Protocol signed, stone fruit exports unlocked
Immediate invitation from GACC for cherry inspectors
Inspections during the ongoing harvest season
Successful inspections lead to bilateral phytosanitary agreements
Packhouse accreditation follows
First official shipments launch next harvest cycle
This moment is pivotal for South African stone fruit exporters, cherries included. The window for action is narrow but the potential, huge.
Exporters should dive into comprehensive packhouse audits, iron out phytosanitary paperwork, and sharpen traceability processes now. China’s market is ready, but so must you be.
With speed, preparation, and the right partners, South African stone fruit is set to flourish in a high-value new market.
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