SOURCE: APA News
South Africa has exported the first batch of avocados for the 2025 season to China, marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural trade.
The shipment arrived in Shanghai last week, strengthening South Africa’s position as a global avocado supplier and making it the third African nation, after Kenya and Tanzania, to access the Chinese market.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen hailed the breakthrough, noting the economic benefits of expanding international markets.
“This ‘early bird shipment’ to China is a testament to the hard work, innovation and strategic foresight within our avocado industry,” Steenhuisen said.
South Africa’s avocado industry has received strong backing from private sector investments, with companies like ZZ2, Core Fruit and Mission Produce contributing to advanced packhouses, nurseries and export expertise.
Steenhuisen noted that South Africa enjoys a logistical advantage over competitors like Peru, thanks to shorter shipping times to China, allowing local producers to supply avocados during periods of lower availability.
The latest shipment followed an August 2023 phytosanitary agreement between South Africa and China, which saw the first export of 21 tonnes arriving in Shanghai in October 2024.