The Fruit Import Report For The First Three Quarters Of 2024 Is Released! Kiwi Replaces Grapes To Enter The Top Five

In the first three quarters of 2024, China's fruit imports showed the following trend: the total import volume reached 6.0337 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 0.15%; The total import value was 14.336 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 1.7%. Although the total import volume has slightly decreased, the import value still maintains a slight growth trend, indicating that consumer demand for high-quality fruits remains strong.
In terms of import volume, fresh durian ranks first with an import volume of 1.3794 million tons, followed by fresh or dried bananas (excluding bananas) with an import volume of 1.2348 million tons; The import volume of other fresh cherries (imported sweet cherries, hereinafter referred to as fresh cherries) reached 357800 tons; The import volume of fresh or dried mangosteen fruit is 263400 tons; Fresh kiwifruit ranks fifth with an import volume of 137600 tons. In terms of import value, fresh durian ranked first with an import value of 6.204 billion US dollars, fresh cherries ranked second with an import value of 2.751 billion US dollars, fresh or dried bananas (excluding bananas) imported at 655 million US dollars, fresh or dried mangosteen imported at 633 million US dollars, and fresh kiwi imported at 546 million US dollars.
From January to September 2024, durian will still be the fruit with the highest import value and largest import volume in China. Thailand and Vietnam dominate the durian market, and Vietnam is rapidly narrowing the market share gap with Thailand. Thailand accounts for 60.20% of the import value and 54.72% of the import volume; The proportion of Vietnam's imports is 39.48%, and the proportion of imports is 44.81%. With the approval of Malaysia's fresh durian imports, Malaysia is expected to occupy a certain market share in the future. From 2022 to 2024, the import volume of durian in China continued to grow, with a year-on-year increase of 11.2% from January to September 2024, reaching 1.3794 million tons.
Cherry ranks second in import value and third in import volume among Chinese fruit imports from January to September 2024. Its import value increased by 23.66% year-on-year, and the import volume increased by 13.53% year-on-year, demonstrating strong market demand and growth potential. In the cherry sector, Chile holds an absolute dominant position, accounting for 96.82% of China's imports from other fresh cherry source countries, with the United States accounting for 2.18%, New Zealand accounting for 0.45%, Argentina accounting for 0.30%, and Australia accounting for 0.25%.

From January to September 2024, fresh kiwifruit replaced fresh grapes and successfully entered the top five in terms of import value and volume. In the fresh kiwi fruit market, New Zealand is in an absolute leading position, with its import value and import volume accounting for 98.51% and 98.61% respectively, an increase of 25.97% and 37.32% year-on-year. In addition, Italy and Greece also export kiwifruit to China, but their import shares are only 1.34% and 0.15% respectively.

From 2022 to 2024, Thailand, Chile, Vietnam, New Zealand, and the Philippines have consistently been the top five source countries for China's fruit imports. From January to September 2024, the import value of Thailand was 5.286 billion US dollars, Chile was 3.249 billion US dollars, Vietnam was 3.02 billion US dollars, New Zealand was 717 million US dollars, and the Philippines was 356 million US dollars. In terms of import volume, the ranking of the top five source countries from 2022 to 2024 has quietly changed. Vietnam overtakes Thailand from second place and ranks first, while Chile overtakes the Philippines from fourth place and ranks third. Vietnam has become the largest source country for China's fruit imports with an import volume of 1.6709 million tons. Next are Thailand (1.5752 million tons), Chile (573600 tons), the Philippines (509100 tons), and New Zealand (202600 tons).

In summary, the Chinese fruit import market in the first three quarters of 2024 presents the following characteristics: strong demand for popular fruits such as cherries, durians, and fresh kiwis; Imported varieties are showing a diversified trend, with fresh durian occupying a leading position in both import value and import volume; The main source countries for imports are relatively stable, with Thailand, Chile, Vietnam, New Zealand, and the Philippines still holding significant market shares; Different countries' characteristic fruits have outstanding performances in the Chinese market. In the future, with the continuous changes in consumer demand and the exploration of new import channels, the Chinese fruit import market is expected to remain active and show more new development trends.