South African cherry producers have gained access to China for the first time, opening up a major new export market for the industry.
The protocol was signed by Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp and Sun Meijun of the General Administration of Chinese Customs in Beijing on 8 September, with China’s substantial demand for cherries expected to create opportunities for increased production, exports and investment.
The market opening comes as South African exporters assess how to compete in China, with fruit size, eating quality, timing and transport likely to shape their approach.
China opens market to SA cherries
The Minister of Agriculture, Willie Aucamp, signed the landmark protocol during the 9th Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Ministerial Meeting in Beijing.
“This achievement is record-breaking as it is the first time that two market access protocols have been signed with China within a year,” said Minister Aucamp. “We truly appreciate China’s efforts to speed up our market access requests for South African agriculture products.”
Speaking at the ministerial session, Minister Aucamp noted the excellent bilateral partnership and praised China’s role in advancing two-way trade in agricultural products. The Minister further commended the finalisation and signing of the cherry protocol as a confirmation of the commitment made to increase and broaden trade under the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development, giving South Africa 0% tariff market access to Chinese markets.
The signing of the protocol will have huge economic benefits for South Africa, with China being the number one global importer of cherries. China’s total import of cherries is about 586,900 tonnes during 2025, valued at US$3.3bn (R52.8bn).
Minister Aucamp also had an opportunity to engage the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Mr Zhang Zhu, on 7 September 2026. In the meeting, both ministers reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to continue to collaborate on mutually beneficial areas such as biosecurity — especially foot and mouth disease — and securing more market access opportunities for South African agricultural products.
There was also an opportunity for Minister Aucamp to meet and engage with representatives of the Chinese fruit importers at the South Africa-China Fruit Trade Business Forum, organised by FruitSA. The opening of the Chinese market for cherries is expected to stimulate more investment in production, adding about 600 new job opportunities, in line with the government’s priority of inclusive economic growth and job creation.
Minister Aucamp emphasised, “There is more to come between South Africa and China now that the negotiations to grant market access for South African blueberries to China are at an advanced stage.”
China has submitted a draft protocol for the import of blueberries for South Africa’s consideration, and Minister Aucamp has requested Team South Africa to fast-track the coordination of inputs and negotiations, with a view to finalising the protocol before the end of the year.
Cherry exporters eye early-season opportunity
Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing welcomed the new market access, saying the opening creates an opportunity for South African growers to establish a presence among Chinese consumers.
“We welcome this development wholeheartedly because it creates another market opportunity for South African cherries,” says Roelf Pienaar, managing director of Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing.
“There is clearly strong demand for cherries in China, and the market presents an exciting opportunity for South African growers, particularly because our season gives us the potential to supply fruit early, before Chilean volumes reach the market in significant quantities.”
South African cherries are expected to enter the market from around week 44, while Chilean production typically commences from around week 49. This creates a potential early-season window in which South African fruit can reach Chinese consumers before larger volumes from Chile arrive.
“Although we don’t initially anticipate large volumes to be exported to China, we do see a real opportunity in that short, early window,” says Killian. “China is a major cherry-consuming market, and the larger fruit is often purchased as gifts, which explains the premium attached to bigger sizes. But being able to arrive early gives us another potential point of difference.”
Market timing will be critical. While larger fruit delivered early in the season can attract a premium, prices are likely to come under pressure once significant Chilean volumes enter the market.
Fruit size presents a challenge
The biggest immediate challenge for exporters is likely to be fruit size. Chinese consumers have a strong preference for larger cherries, with fruit of 28mm and above commanding particular interest, says Johan Brink, sales director at Tru-Cape.
However, size will not be the only consideration for Tru-Cape.
South African cherries have an important advantage in eating quality, and the company believes this can help create a point of differentiation as it enters the Chinese market.
“While size is undoubtedly important in China, we believe South African eating quality can count strongly in our favour,” says Lawrence Killian, Tru-Cape’s marketing manager for the Far East. “South African fresh produce is already associated with quality among Chinese buyers. That gives us a platform from which to introduce our cherries to the market.”
Exporters assess Chinese demand
Tru-Cape intends to explore the opportunity during the coming season, with discussions already under way with potential Chinese customers. Given the importance of getting fruit into the market quickly, the company expects that initial consignments will be transported by air rather than sea.
“It makes more sense for us to export the cherries via airfreight,” says Brink. “Shipping introduces a greater risk that we could miss that early market opportunity.”
Currently, around 80% of Tru-Cape’s cherries are sold domestically, with approximately 20% exported, mainly to Middle Eastern markets. China, therefore, represents a significant opportunity to diversify the company’s export markets.
For Tru-Cape, the objective will be to identify the right combination of size, timing, eating quality and price to build a sustainable position in China.
“It is about understanding what Chinese consumers want and identifying where South African cherries can compete successfully. Size is a challenge, but it is not the whole story. Our eating quality, the reputation of South African produce, and our early-season timing all give us reasons to be optimistic,” says Pienaar.
