South African Cherries Approved for Export to China: 54% Increase Expected in 2025/26 Season, Cold Treatment or Fumigation Required
On September 22, the official website of the General Administration of Customs published an announcement on the phytosanitary requirements for the import of South African fresh cherries, allowing the import of South African fresh cherries that meet the requirements. After Chile and New Zealand, another cherry-producing region in the Southern Hemisphere has officially opened the door to the Chinese market.
South Africa and Chile are both located in the Southern Hemisphere. South African cherries come onto the market about 3 weeks earlier than Chilean cherries, but overall production remains relatively limited. In the 2025/26 season, South Africa's cherry planting area has expanded from 262 hectares in 2016 to 802 hectares; production is expected to reach 5,100 tonnes, a sharp increase of 54% from 3,300 tonnes in the previous season; export volume has reached 488,000 boxes, up 111% year on year.
South Africa's main cherry-producing area is concentrated in the Ceres region of the Western Cape. At present, about 30% of orchards have not yet entered full production. As young trees gradually mature, there is still considerable room for production growth. The approval for export to China comes just as a large number of newly added orchards are entering large-scale production, with varieties including Cheery Nebula™ and Cheery Cupid™. It is worth mentioning that Asia has been listed by the South African cherry industry as a strategic growth market, with exports to Asia in the 2025/26 season up by as much as 334% year on year. In the initial stage of market access, South African growers will test the Chinese market with small-volume supplies.
Regarding quarantine requirements, the quarantine pests of concern to China include the Mediterranean fruit fly, Dacus ciliatus, Natal fruit fly, fig wax scale, dark mealybug and Pseudomonas syringae pv. morsprunorum. Orchards exporting to China shall establish and implement Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) under the supervision of the South African side, and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In the packaging process, after procedures such as washing, sorting and grading, it must be ensured that the fruit is free of live insects, defective fruit and impurities such as branches, leaves and soil.
Cherries exported to China must also undergo cold treatment or fumigation treatment under the supervision of the South African side or its authorized personnel. Cold treatment can be carried out before export or in transit: treatment at a fruit core temperature below 1.11°C for more than 14 days, below 1.67°C for more than 16 days, or below 2.22°C for more than 18 days; if cold treatment is deemed ineffective during entry inspection, the consignment will face cold treatment at the port of arrival, return or destruction. Fumigation treatment uses methyl bromide, with a dose of 32g/m³ for 2 hours at 21.1°C or above under standard atmospheric pressure.
