Buyer guide · South Africa → China and Asia
South African avocados and cherries for Asian buyers: market access, seasons and how to request supply
Status reviewed: · SeedMatch Group editorial team
For importers, distributors and retail buyers in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Korea, India and the Gulf who are assessing South African avocados and cherries. Confirmed facts and points that still need confirmation are kept separate.
Send a confidential RFQShort answer (25 October 2026)
- Avocados: China access is confirmed. GACC Announcement 2023 No. 107 (28 August 2023) allows South African fresh avocados from orchards, packhouses and fumigation facilities registered with GACC, and GACC published a list of qualified South African avocado enterprises after inspections in July 2024.
- Shipments have taken place, but volumes are still small: China recorded 91.9 t of avocados from South Africa in 2025, up from 22.0 t in 2024 (UN Comtrade). Trade reports describe the 2025 season's first containers arriving in China in May 2025.
- Cherries: access is pending verification. A protocol was signed on 8 September 2026 and GACC Announcement 140/2026 sets the requirements, but on 22 October 2026 China had not yet confirmed that South Africa meets them; the minister expected approval by year-end. Do not assume South African cherries are approved or shipping to China.
- Elsewhere in Asia, South Africa exported 210 t of cherries to Singapore, 126 t to the UAE and 43 t to Malaysia in 2025, and 1,848 t of avocados to the Philippines and 1,299 t to the UAE (UN Comtrade, South Africa's reported exports).
ZZ2 avocados were among the fruit reported in the first 2025 containers to China, exported through Core Fruit (Fruitnet, May 2025). ZZ2 is not listed on SeedMatch, its fruit is not offered through SeedMatch, and SeedMatch does not bypass any grower's export or marketing channels.
How requests work
- SeedMatch Group is an independent, human-led, buyer-first sourcing and RFQ service. It is not a grower, packer or exporter and holds no stock.
- A sourcing specialist reviews your specification and approaches suitable suppliers; harvested-produce programmes are coordinated through Global B2B Group, the parent group's buyer-first marketplace. Buyers and suppliers do not contact each other directly.
- Free for buyers; managed programmes start at USD 250,000 in total value. Requests and contact details are never published.
- No price, volume, approval, freight schedule or customs outcome is promised. Final compliance checks rest with the buyer, exporter and importer of record and the competent authorities.
Confirmed facts and points to confirm
Status as of 25 October 2026, with the date of each source. Re-check before contracting; access lists change by season.
| Item | Status | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| South African avocados into mainland China | Confirmed | GACC Announcement 2023 No. 107 (28 Aug 2023); GACC list of qualified enterprises after July 2024 inspections (MOFCOM, 21 Aug 2024). |
| Avocado shipments to China | Confirmed | China imports from South Africa: 91.9 t in 2025, 22.0 t in 2024 (UN Comtrade). First 2025-season containers reported in May 2025 (Fruitnet). |
| Registered orchard, packhouse and fumigation facility for this season | Confirm per shipment | Required by Announcement 2023 No. 107; South Africa submits the registered list to GACC before each export season. |
| South African cherries into mainland China | Pending | Protocol signed 8 Sep 2026; GACC Announcement 140/2026. China's confirmation still awaited on 22 Oct 2026; no shipment verified. |
| South African avocados into Japan | Confirm per shipment | Protocol for Hass avocados reported finalised, with cold treatment at 2 °C for 19 days (Fruitnet, Jan 2024); Subtrop lists Japan among new markets (Jul 2026). Confirm registered facilities. |
| South African avocados into India | Confirm per shipment | First shipment in 2024; Subtrop reports very low volumes and high import tariffs (Jul 2026; Fruitnet, Sep 2026). |
| China zero-tariff measure for African partners | Confirm per shipment | Zero tariffs for 20 African non-LDC partners from 1 May 2026 to 30 Apr 2028 (USDA FAS Beijing, Jul 2026). Confirm that South African origin and your HS code are covered. |
What importers ask
Seasonal windows
- Avocados: South Africa's main harvest starts around March. ZZ2 described itself as an early supplier for China and said transit from South Africa is about a week shorter than from Peru (company statement, Fruitnet, May 2025).
- Cherries: South African fruit is expected to arrive ahead of Chile's main volumes, but there is no China window until approval is confirmed.
Grade and variety
- Hass and Hass types make up 80% of new plantings and 65–70% of exports (Subtrop, Jul 2026). Specify cultivar, count or size per carton, minimum dry matter or ripeness stage, and defect limits.
- For cherries, state calibre in millimetres, firmness, colour and sugar (brix) targets.
Packaging and labelling
- South African avocado exports are counted in 4 kg cartons. Confirm carton format, labelling for the destination and pallet configuration with the exporter.
- China requires registration numbers that allow traceback to the orchard and packhouse; check the label fields in the current announcement.
Volumes
- South Africa's avocado exports to China are still small (about 92 t recorded by China in 2025). State weekly and seasonal volumes so the team can check what registered suppliers can actually support.
- Managed programmes start at USD 250,000 in total value.
Cold chain and treatment
- China's avocado protocol relies on registered fumigation facilities and pest controls; Japan requires cold treatment (2 °C for 19 days, as reported). Cherries to China need cold treatment or approved fumigation under Announcement 140/2026.
- Agree pre-cooling, reefer set point, continuous temperature logging and arrival inspection in the contract. PPECB provides statutory export inspection and cold-chain services in South Africa.
Documentation checklist
Points to check for each consignment. They are not a compliance guarantee; the current rules of the South African Department of Agriculture, PPECB and the destination authority prevail.
- Phytosanitary certificate issued by South Africa's Department of Agriculture
- Orchard, packhouse and treatment-facility registration numbers on the destination's current list
- Fumigation or cold-treatment record where the protocol requires it
- PPECB export inspection and temperature records
- Destination import permit, e.g. China's entry quarantine permit (进境动植物检疫许可证), held by the importer
- Certificate of origin, if a tariff preference is claimed
- Recent pesticide-residue test report against destination limits, and any certificates you specify (e.g. GLOBALG.A.P.)
How to request supply
- Send the RFQ below: product, origin, destination port, arrival window, variety and size, packaging, volume, shipping terms, documents and programme value.
- A sourcing specialist checks scope and the USD 250,000 minimum, then confirms current market access for your destination.
- Suitable suppliers are approached through Global B2B Group; their documents are checked against your requirements.
- You receive organised responses through the team. Contracts and final compliance checks are agreed between the parties.
For South African growers preparing for Asian markets
SeedMatch helps growers and investors plan and procure the systems behind export programmes. We do not buy, sell or export fruit.
Frequently asked questions
Can South African avocados be exported to China?
Yes. GACC Announcement 2023 No. 107 allows fresh avocados from GACC-registered South African orchards, packhouses and fumigation facilities. China recorded 91.9 t of avocados from South Africa in 2025 (UN Comtrade). Check that your supplier is on the current season's registered list.
Are South African cherries approved for China?
Not yet confirmed. The protocol was signed on 8 September 2026 and GACC Announcement 140/2026 sets the requirements, but on 22 October 2026 China had not confirmed that South Africa meets them. This page will be updated with the date when official confirmation is published.
When are South African avocados available?
The main harvest starts around March, and timing varies by region and cultivar. Exporters' programmes for China depend on registered facilities and shipping slots, so confirm windows per supplier.
Can I buy from ZZ2 or another named grower through SeedMatch?
No. SeedMatch does not list growers or stock and does not bypass growers' export or marketing channels. You send a specification; a specialist approaches suitable suppliers, and buyers and suppliers do not contact each other directly.
Is there a minimum and a fee?
Managed programmes start at USD 250,000 in total value. The service is free for buyers.
Do you quote prices or freight schedules?
No published prices or schedules. Any price or sailing you receive is a supplier or carrier quote to check against your specification.
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 sourcingCold rooms, ripening and refrigerated logistics infrastructure: ColdMatch Group. coldmatchgroup.com
Related guides
Sources
Official, statutory and trade sources reviewed on 25 October 2026, shown with their publication dates. Company statements are reported as such.
- GACC Announcement 2023 No. 107: phytosanitary requirements for fresh avocados from South Africa (dated 28 August 2023) — Ministry of Commerce of China (republished GACC announcement),
- GACC releases list of qualified South African fresh avocado enterprises (after on-site inspection, 6–13 July 2024) — Economic and Commercial Office of China in South Africa (MOFCOM),
- First South African avocado containers arrive in China (ZZ2 fruit exported by Core Fruit) — Fruitnet,
- ZZ2 South African avocados arrive in China for the first time (80 t to Shanghai) — Avobook (citing Portal Frutícola),
- UN Comtrade: China imports of HS 080440 from South Africa, 2025: 91.9 t (2024: 22.0 t); South Africa exports of HS 080440 and 080929 to Asian partners, 2025 (retrieved 25 Oct 2026) — United Nations Comtrade,
- Industry perspectives: avocado, litchi and mango (DoA–Subtrop special markets meeting) — Subtrop,
- Breakthrough for South African avocados in Japan (protocol finalised; cold treatment 2 °C for 19 days) — Fruitnet,
- South Africa targets 21mn cartons despite tough avocado season (China and India market conditions) — Fruitnet,
- Minister Willie Aucamp signs protocol opening market for South African cherries — Department of Agriculture, South Africa (gov.za),
- GACC Announcement No. 140 of 2026: phytosanitary requirements for fresh cherries from South Africa — China–Africa SPS information platform,
- SA cherry growers await China's final nod before first shipments (minister expects approval by year-end) — Business News South Africa (citing Reuters via Engineering News),
- Question NW5103 to the Minister of Agriculture: China visit outcomes (draft blueberry protocol received) — Parliamentary Monitoring Group (written reply),
- Stone Fruit Annual, China (CH2026-0086): zero tariffs for 20 African non-LDC partners, 1 May 2026 – 30 April 2028 — USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, Beijing,
- Our mandate: export inspection and cold-chain services under the Perishable Products Export Control Act 9 of 1983 — Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB),