Chilean cherries in China

China’s central coast has come into the new year with an increased share of cherry imports from Chile, according to iQonsulting.

Using data up until week one of 2015,Shanghai has become the destination port for 38 per cent of Chile's cherry shipments to China, up from 28 per cent in the 2013/14 season.

Shipments of Chilean cherries to Shanghai have increased 101 per cent compared to last season, while shipments to southern China, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, have increased 35 per cent. Shipments to northern China have decreased, falling from 10 per cent in 2013/14 to 4 per cent so far in 2014/15.

With a bumper crop of cherries and total exports up 37.6 per cent, already tipping 85,000 tonnes between 1 September 2014 and 7 january 2015, Chile will exports 81 per cent of its cherries to Asia, 10 per cent to North America, 5 per cent to Latin America and 4 per cent to Europe,according to theChilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex).

Exports of cherries to China in particular have increased from 68 per cent of Chile's total cherry exports in 2013/14 to 78 per cent in 2014/15.