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Buyer guide · Fresh cherries · China market

Cherry sourcing for China: seasonal supply, specifications and RFQ

Sources reviewed: · SeedMatch Group editorial team

A practical guide for importers, wholesalers and retail buyers planning sweet-cherry programmes into China for the 2026/27 southern-hemisphere season: where supply comes from, what to confirm before contracting, and how to send a specification-based request.

Send a short cherry request

Short answer

  • China is the world's largest cherry import market. UN Comtrade records 584,857 tonnes of fresh cherries (HS 0809.29) worth about USD 3.40 billion imported in 2025; 577,002 tonnes (about 98.7%) came from Chile. GACC figures reported in the trade press round to about 587,000 tonnes and USD 3.43 billion.
  • The 2026/27 Chilean season has started: the first air-freighted shipments landed at Shanghai Pudong on 17–18 October 2026. Main southern-hemisphere supply typically runs from about November to February, depending on origin, variety and logistics.
  • South Africa signed a cherry protocol with China on 8 September 2026 and GACC Announcement 140/2026 sets the import requirements. A 22 October 2026 report said final operational approval was still pending, so treat South African cherry offers as provisional until orchards and packhouses appear on the current GACC registration list.
  • Prices, volumes and quotas change by week and are not published here. Any figure in an offer is a supplier quote to be checked, not a market fact.

South African cherries: what is still waiting for publication

Checked on 27 October 2026 against official sources. We update this list when GACC publishes the registered facilities or a first consignment is officially reported; until then, treat South African offers as provisional.

  • PendingRegistered orchards and packhouses for China

    Not yet published. GACC Announcement 140/2026 requires orchards, packhouses and treatment facilities to be reviewed and jointly registered by South Africa's agriculture department and GACC. On 27 October 2026 a Reuters-based report said approval was in its final stage and the minister expects clearance by year-end; that is an expectation, not a GACC decision.

    GACC announcements (official)

  • CheckImport duty

    China applies zero customs duties to qualifying South African goods from 1 May 2026 to 30 April 2028, subject to the tariff schedule and rules of origin; a SARS certificate of origin is needed to claim it (SARS issues them from 1 June 2026). Some tariff lines carry tariff-rate quotas. No South African cherry consignment has cleared yet, so confirm the treatment of HS 0809.29 with your customs broker before pricing.

    the dtic: China zero-tariff scheme (official)

  • PendingFirst consignment

    No first shipment of South African cherries to China has been officially reported as of 27 October 2026.

    Produce Report, 27 Oct 2026 (citing Reuters)

Nothing here is a forecast or a guarantee. A status changes only when the official source shows it.

Who we are in this trade

  • SeedMatch Group and its parent, Global B2B Group, are not growers, packers, producers or exporters, and hold no cherry stock.
  • Harvested-cherry buying requests are reviewed by a sourcing specialist and coordinated through Global B2B Group, the parent group's buyer-first marketplace. Buyers and exporters do not contact each other directly.
  • The service is free for buyers. Managed programmes start at USD 250,000 in total value.
  • No availability, price, arrival date or customs outcome is promised. China-access status, registrations and documents must be confirmed for the current season before contracting.
  • Final compliance checks are the responsibility of the buyer, the exporter and the importer of record with the competent authorities in the origin country and China.

Origins and windows for the China market

Status as of 25 October 2026. Windows are typical industry ranges, not delivery commitments; confirm each origin's current China access and registered facilities before buying. Windows for Australia, New Zealand and Argentina come from the industry calendars cited in our Chile → China guide.

OriginTypical windowChina access (25 Oct 2026)What to check
ChileFirst air shipments mid-Oct; main supply about Nov–FebEstablished
Established access under the 2008 protocol; about 98.7% of China's 2025 import volume (UN Comtrade).		Orchard (CSG) and packhouse (CSP) codes on the current GACC list; labels; cold-treatment status where required.
South AfricaEarlier than Chile, reportedly about three weeksPending
Protocol signed 8 Sep 2026; GACC Announcement 140/2026 published. Final operational approval reported pending on 22 Oct 2026; no first shipment verified.		Proof that the orchard, packhouse and treatment facility are registered for China; cold treatment or approved fumigation.
AustraliaLate Oct–Feb (industry calendar)Check
Small 2025 volumes to China reported in GACC data.		Current China access for the producing state or region and the registered-facility list.
New ZealandLate Dec–mid Feb (industry data)Check
792 tonnes imported by China in 2025 (UN Comtrade).		Registered orchards and packhouses for China this season.
ArgentinaNov–Mar (industry calendar)Check
Small 2025 volumes to China reported in GACC data.		Current protocol conditions and registered facilities.

2026/27 outlook: what official forecasts say

  • USDA FAS Santiago (27 Aug 2026) forecasts record Chilean cherry production of 727,000 MT and exports of 667,000 MT in MY 2026/27, after exports fell about 9% to 569,492 MT in MY 2025/26. China took about 87% (494,332 MT) of Chile's 2025/26 exports.
  • USDA FAS Beijing (3 Jul 2026) projects China's cherry imports to decline marginally in MY 2026/27 (April–March) because of weaker consumption and market saturation; a September 2026 USDA global outlook, as reported by Fruitnet, instead forecast a 12% rise to 560,000 tonnes. Forecasts differ, so plan volumes conservatively.
  • Imports typically pick up in November, peak in January around the Lunar New Year and taper off in March (USDA FAS Beijing).
  • Both USDA reports stress quality: size, firmness, colour, sugar (brix) and post-harvest condition. Large volumes arriving within a short window created logistical and price pressure in 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Supplier checklist before you contract

Points to check with any exporter. They help you ask the right questions; they are not a compliance guarantee, and current GACC and origin-authority rules always prevail.

  1. 1. China export registration

    Ask for the orchard and packhouse registration codes and check them against the current-season GACC list for that origin. For South Africa, wait for final operational approval.

  2. 2. Traceability

    Each box should be traceable to orchard and packhouse codes and a lot. Confirm the label fields required by the protocol, in English, and the pallet marking for China.

  3. 3. Cold chain

    Agree the pre-cooling standard, reefer set point and humidity in the contract, and require continuous temperature logger data from packhouse to arrival.

  4. 4. Shelf life and transit

    Match variety, firmness and harvest maturity to the transit mode. Sea voyages need fruit and packaging built for longer storage; air freight changes cost and volume.

  5. 5. Packaging standard

    Specify box weight, liner or modified-atmosphere bag, calibre per box and palletisation. Gift-box formats for the Lunar New Year need lead time.

  6. 6. Residues and documents

    Ask for a recent residue test report from an accredited laboratory against China's GB 2763 limits, plus the phytosanitary certificate and any treatment records.

  7. 7. Import side

    Your importer of record needs the required Chinese import quarantine permit and should confirm the current inspection requirements at the port of entry.

  8. 8. Commercial terms

    Fix the Incoterm, arrival inspection, quality-claim window and evidence (photos, temperature data, third-party survey) before shipment.

For growers and exporters preparing for China demand

SeedMatch supports commercial orchard and post-harvest projects. We do not buy or export fruit; we help growers plan and procure the systems that China-bound programmes depend on.

Frequently asked questions

How big is China's cherry import market?

UN Comtrade records 584,857 tonnes of fresh cherries (HS 0809.29) worth about USD 3.40 billion imported by China in 2025, about 98.7% from Chile. GACC data reported by Produce Report give about 587,000 tonnes and USD 3.43 billion, up about 30% in volume. USDA counts by April–March marketing year, so its figures differ again.

When does Chilean cherry supply reach China in 2026/27?

The first air shipments of the 2026/27 season reached Shanghai Pudong on 17–18 October 2026. Main sea-freight supply typically runs from about November to February, peaking before the Lunar New Year; exact timing depends on variety and logistics.

Can I buy South African cherries for China now?

Not reliably yet. The protocol was signed on 8 September 2026 and GACC Announcement 140/2026 sets the requirements, but final operational approval was reported pending on 22 October 2026. Contract only once the supplier's orchard, packhouse and treatment facility are on the current GACC list.

Does SeedMatch Group sell or export cherries?

No. SeedMatch Group and Global B2B Group are not growers, producers or exporters. Requests are reviewed by a specialist and coordinated through Global B2B Group, without direct buyer–exporter contact.

Is there a minimum order?

Managed programmes start at USD 250,000 in total value. The service is free for buyers.

Do you publish cherry prices?

No. Prices change weekly by origin, variety, calibre and transport mode. Any price you receive is a quote to check against the specification, not a published market rate.

Buying harvested fruit at programme scale?

Global B2B Group, the parent group's buyer-first marketplace, handles fruit and other food-commodity programmes from USD 250,000, free for buyers and with mediated contact.

Global B2B Group produce sourcing

Cold rooms, ripening and refrigerated logistics infrastructure: ColdMatch Group. coldmatchgroup.com

Related guides

Sources

Official and trade sources reviewed on 25 October 2026, shown with their publication dates.

Next step

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