Product Brief: China’s Fruit Trade Grows in January–August 2026

Summary

China's fruit and fruit product exports reached USD 700 million in August 2026, up 17.79 percent year on year, on volume of 613,400 tonnes, up 17.78 percent, according to customs statistics cited in a Product Brief published by the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce on 20 October 2026. Cumulative exports for the first eight months totalled USD 17.77 billion, up 17.76 percent year on year, on volume of 17.75 million tonnes, up 17.74 percent. The top ten export markets by value were Vietnam, Indonesia, the United States, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong (China), Malaysia and the Philippines, together accounting for 17.73 percent of export value.

Vietnam was the largest export market, with exports of USD 740 million in the first eight months, up 17.72 percent year on year, and USD 120 million in August alone, up 17.71 percent. On the import side, China imported USD 17.70 billion of fruit and fruit products in August, up 20.6 percent year on year, on volume of 950,000 tonnes, up 11.6 percent. Cumulative imports for the first eight months reached USD 15.46 billion, up 6.3 percent year on year, on volume of 7.2436 million tonnes, up 3.1 percent.

The top ten import sources by value were Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, New Zealand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Australia and Ecuador, together accounting for 92.6 percent of import value. Thailand was the largest import source, with imports of USD 6.43 billion in the first eight months, up 17.7 percent year on year, and USD 750 million in August alone, up 6.7 percent.

Commentary

Continued growth in China's fruit trade sends a mixed signal to New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises. On the export side, China's exports to ASEAN markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia rose 12.3 percent in value and 23.4 percent in volume year on year, indicating stronger competitiveness for Chinese fruit in Southeast Asia, which could squeeze New Zealand apples and kiwifruit in some price-sensitive markets. On the import side, New Zealand is China's fourth-largest fruit source; while its individual export value to China for the first eight months was not separately disclosed, China's overall fruit imports rose 6.3 percent, with August imports surging 20.6 percent, reflecting still-robust demand for high-quality fruit in the Chinese market.

New Zealand's Zespri kiwifruit and Envy apples enjoy brand advantages in China, but the rapid growth of competitors such as Thailand and Chile warrants attention. Thailand's exports to China reached USD 6.43 billion, up 17.7 percent year on year, with its durian and longan offering differentiated competition against New Zealand's temperate fruit, while Chilean cherries and blueberries compete directly with some New Zealand products. For New Zealand small and medium-sized fruit exporters, the recommendation is to watch consumption upgrading in China's tier-two and tier-three cities, leverage the zero-tariff advantage under the China–New Zealand free trade agreement, strengthen differentiated selling points such as organic and sustainable production, and explore export opportunities in processed fruit products such as freeze-dried fruit and purées to hedge against price volatility in the fresh fruit market.

Keywords: fruit and fruit products, imports and exports, customs statistics, export value, import value, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, country markets, year-on-year growth

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