US cherry shippers are reporting a positive start to their export programmes to China, with strong prices auguring well for the rest of the season, according to Constanza Ramos of iQonsulting. “The season started somewhat earlier than last year, with first consignments arriving from the US in week 17, followed by Spain in week 21 and Turkey in week 23,” Ramos said.
Prices for the first shipment from the US reached RMB700 per carton for counts 9-9.5, around RMB100 more than during the same period of last year.
Ramos said the excellent quality of the US crop and increasing demand from China’s rapidly expanding middle class were both factors behind the price hikes, which reflect the situation experienced by Chilean exporters earlier this year.
Coral and Sequoia are the first varieties shipped from the US to China, followed by Chelan and Bing. Spain, meanwhile, exports Chelan and Rocket in the first weeks of the season, with Santina, Bing and Cristalina coming on stream in subsequent weeks. The main variety shipped from Turkey to China is Ziraat 900.
