In brief
China has signed a phytosanitary protocol with South Africa, granting zero‑tariff treatment for fresh cherries and other stone fruits. Industry representative Pieter‑Steyn de Wet cautioned that while tariff advantages are attractive, growers must strengthen supply chains, quality standards and market demand to fully exploit the opportunity. The move could boost South Africa’s expanding cherry sector and broaden stone‑fruit exports to the Chinese consumer market.
In Johannesburg on Nov. 1, Xinhua reported that China is opening a zero‑tariff route for South African fruit exporters, offering a major new market outside the region’s traditional destinations.
The interview featured Pieter‑Steyn de Wet, information manager at Hortgro‑Cherries, who represents commercial cherry growers in South Africa. He explained that China imported roughly 586,900 tonnes of cherries in 2025 and has recently signed a phytosanitary protocol allowing fresh cherries to enter the market without customs duties.
de Wet said the zero‑tariff policy “enhances the competitiveness of South African cherries by reducing landed costs for Chinese importers.”
However, he cautioned that tariff relief alone would not secure success. “While zero‑tariff access is an important advantage, it will not be sufficient on its own,” de Wet warned, adding that exporters must compete through efficient logistics, consistent quality, reliable supply, and competitive pricing.
Beyond immediate trade benefits, de Wet highlighted that access to China could fuel the continued expansion of South Africa’s cherry sector. “Access to China provides a critical outlet for our scaling production and will encourage continued investment in orchards, packhouse capacity, and cold‑chain infrastructure,” he said.
He also stressed that investment and export growth ultimately depend on market demand, sustained profitability, and the industry’s international competitiveness. “Investment and export growth will ultimately depend on market demand, sustained profitability, and our international competitiveness,” de Wet noted.
China’s openness extends to other stone fruits as well. Protocols for peaches, apricots, plums and nectarines have already been signed, and commercial shipments are expanding. “South African stone fruit offers promising avenues in China,” de Wet said. "Continued investment in market development, consumer…" he added, underscoring the need to cultivate domestic demand and strengthen export logistics.
The protocol also follows China’s policy of providing zero‑tariff treatment to qualifying products from African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, further easing barriers for South African fruit growers seeking to enter the vast Chinese consumer base.
The interview underlines that while China’s market offers significant long‑term growth potential, South African exporters must address logistics bottlenecks and geopolitical disruptions, particularly those affecting shipping routes through the Middle East. By diversifying into China, growers can reduce reliance on traditional destinations and safeguard against such disruptions.
In sum, the phytosanitary agreement and tariff relief create a promising entry point for South African cherries and other stone fruits. Success, de Wet emphasized, will hinge on strengthening supply‑chain infrastructure, maintaining quality standards, and meeting the evolving demands of the Chinese market.
