The trade promotion agency, ZimTrade, has encouraged local farmers to explore China’s fruit import market, which offers a valuable chance to earn foreign currency. In 2023, China became Zimbabwe’s third-largest export market, making up about 23% of the country’s export destinations, with exports valued at an impressive $1.7 billion, according to Trade Map 2024.
This significant figure highlights the potential for fresh produce farmers to not only expand their businesses but also diversify their product offerings to meet the demands of this vast market. Trade Map data reveals a notable gap and an opportunity for Zimbabwean farmers to diversify their fruit offerings.
China’s most imported fresh produce includes durians ($6.7 billion), cherries ($2.6 billion), bananas ($1 billion), mangosteens ($730 million), grapes ($518 million), citrus ($446 million), kiwifruit ($493 million), longan ($454 million), dragon fruit ($320 million), plums ($280 million), cranberries ($260 million), and macadamia nuts ($222 million), among others.
“With Zimbabwe’s favorable climatic conditions, there is ample room for farmers to introduce new products that could appeal to Chinese consumers. For instance, durians and mangosteens are tropical fruits that could thrive in Zimbabwe’s environment. Additionally, kiwifruit and dragon fruit have already begun to be cultivated in Matabeleland South, where the sunny conditions are ideal for their growth,” said ZimTrade.
The agency noted that South Africa, the leading African exporter to China, has successfully captured a significant market share, exporting nuts worth $246 million and citrus fruits worth $190 million. This success story serves as a powerful reminder that Zimbabwean farmers can also stake their claim in this lucrative market by enhancing their capacities as individual growers, forming cooperatives, and collaborating as a nation to strengthen our export capabilities,” said ZimTrade.
To successfully enter the Chinese market, Zimbabwean farmers must navigate a complex landscape of regulations and standards. First and foremost, obtaining market access approval from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) is essential. This process requires adherence to China’s stringent food safety and phytosanitary standards, which include meeting maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, complying with labeling requirements, and ensuring product traceability.
