Shanghai hosts 2026 China International Fruit Expo

Summary

The 2026 China International Fruit Expo was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from 26 to 28 August, hosted by the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products (CFNA) and organised by Shanghai Maoheng Exhibition Co. , Ltd. Cao Derong, President of CFNA, attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks.

He also attended concurrent events, including the opening ceremonies of the Australia Pavilion and the Chile Pavilion and the Shandong Premium Export Products Shanghai Promotion Conference. Mr Cao held discussions and exchanges with representatives from the Department of Commerce of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association, Horticulture Innovation Australia and the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance, and signed a memorandum of understanding with Horticulture Innovation Australia. This year's expo covered more than 23,000 square metres and attracted nearly 300 exhibitors and more than 25,000 professional buyers from over 60 countries and regions worldwide.

Since its first edition in 2021, the event has grown into Asia's leading large-scale and highly professional international fruit industry gathering. Well-known domestic and international fruit brands, among them Joy Wing Mau, Goodfarmer, Yishiyuan, Zespri, Joyvio, Dole, Driscoll's and Rockit, showcased their products. Varieties newly entering the Chinese market, such as Australian apples and Zimbabwean blueberries, exhibited for the first time.

Deeply processed products such as juices, dried fruits and freeze-dried fruits and vegetables were also on display, alongside supporting sectors including intelligent sorting production lines, cold-chain preservation technology and packaging. Origin delegations from Guangxi, Shandong, Yunnan, Xinjiang, Hainan and other regions brought nearly 100 advantageous categories.

Commentary

The scale and participation at the China International Fruit Expo underline China's position as a growth engine for global fruit consumption. The presence of Zespri and Rockit reflects the established advantages of New Zealand fruit in China's high-end market. But the sharp increase in the number of companies in the Chilean, Australian and Peruvian pavilions, along with the debut of newly approved varieties such as Australian apples and Zimbabwean blueberries, shows that competition is extending from traditional cherries and kiwifruit into more categories.

For New Zealand SMEs, tariffs on fruit under the China-New Zealand FTA are already basically zero, which means the real barriers lie in non-tariff access and channel capabilities. The Jiaxing Haiguangxing procurement matchmaking event held during the expo gave small and medium-sized exporters an opportunity to bypass excessive competition in first-tier cities and reach the East China wholesale market directly. At the same time, the concentrated display of processed products and cold-chain preservation technologies points to a direction: fresh fruit export profits are constrained by seasons and logistics, and developing value-added products such as juices and freeze-dried fruits and vegetables can help smooth risks.

The joint presentation by more than ten Australian fruit associations also reminds New Zealand exporters that a 'pure' label alone is hard to sustain a premium. They need to participate more actively in research on Chinese consumption trends, for example by using the 'China Fruit Consumption and Trends Insight Report' released at the expo to adjust variety and packaging strategies. The scale of 25,000 professional buyers is itself a signal of market depth, but converting exhibition booths into orders still requires localised operations.

Keywords: China International Fruit Expo, China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products, Cao Derong, Exhibitors, Professional Buyers, China Fruit Consumption and Trends Insight Report, Chile Cherry 2026 Workshop, Horticulture Innovation Australia, Shanghai New International Expo Centre, Full Fruit Industry Chain

Source: China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-products