Mexico has a bright future as a supplier to China, according to avocado and berry importers in the People’s Republic.
Shanghai-based Mexican avocado importer Lantao International is developing sales of the exotic fruit across China, after successful promotions in second-tier cities last year.
Meanwhile, the Shanghai import arm of S&A Produce anticipates great potential for growth for Mexican berries in China, after import protocols were approved last year.
“I think all good Mexican products will have a bright future in the Chinese market,” says Freya Tang, S&A Produce.
Lantao International’s Mexican avocado sales to northern Chinese cities rose by 30 per cent last September after week-long promotions in seven China Sun supermarkets, reveals Lantao CEO John Wang.
In-store promotions included tastings and demonstrations, as well as recipe card distribution.
With help from its supply partner Mission Produce, Lantao plans to carry out similar promotions in Shanghai in September this year, says Wang.
As well as its in-store campaigns, Lantao has been working hard to educate Chinese consumers about this unfamiliar fruit, and how to use it, for the last three years via social media networks, such as You Tube and WeChat.
Since their entry into the Chinese market, Mexican avocados have seen rapid growth, says Lantao, who cites a 400 per cent year-on-year rise in value in 2014.
Quality issues, caused by rain damage, can sometimes hamper Mexican avocado imports, he says. Nevertheless, Wang is bullish about the future for the product.
“For sure, Mexico will become a main source for Chinese avocado imports,” he says.
The future look good for Mexican berries, too, since S&A Produce expects the Mexican berry market in China to increase “significantly” each year.
The uptake of Mexican raspberries has been greatly helped by an increase in production of Chinese-grown product, making consumers more familiar with the fruit, say Davies and Tang.
Blackberries are less well-known, but sales have great potential to grow, they say.
“Currently raspberries are more popular and accepted by Chinese consumers due to their sweeter taste compared to blackberries, which are a little bit sour,” says Tang. “But still, there will be a great potential market for both berries in China due to their healthy benefits, especially now China is growing berries so consumers know raspberries and blackberries better than before.”
The key challenges for sourcing from Mexico will be the high duty costs that make Mexican produce more expensive for importers, but this won't be a barrier, she adds.
“I think all the good products with good quality, high health benefits will be have a bright future in Chinese market, even if sometimes they are more expensive,” Tang says.
