A list of fruit that is permitted to be imported into China, organised by country, could be a source of valuable information for smart Australian fruit-growers and exporters.

The updated list was released last week by the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).

The list, extracted below, contains the name of  fruit species for which imports into China  are  permitted by AQSIQ.  The list represents a good sampling of upper and middle class China’s growing demand for imported fresh fruit, and the countries from which each fruit species is currently being imported.

It is interesting to note that Australia has so few approved fruit categories on China’s list.

Maybe the reason is that Australian fruit producers are too orientated to supply-side economics in their approach to business expansion. It seems to me that maybe we should be studying the demand-side and getting to understand what consumers in China want or need in better quality, and the niche marketing opportunities that arise.

Such opportunities include seasonal price variances which would allow Australian producers to export at more competitive prices at different times of the year.

Note should be taken of what is in demand from other countries, as these present opportunities to grow new varieties and/or opportunities for Australian growers (together with Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Australia’s trade department, Austrade) to establish protocols to obtain the necessary approvals from China’s AQSIQ.  We should also be looking at what is being exported to China by tropical countries such as Thailand and Malaysia – there is regions in northern Australia from which similar products could be supplied and at different times of the year from Northern Hemisphere suppliers.

This information is vital for Australian fruit-growers, as well as Horticulture Innovation Australia and Austrade which, respectively, are responsible for research and development and marketing of Australian horticultural produce, and developing Australia’s international prosperity through trade.

I urge the Australian fruit industry to use the list as a starting point and to explore what fruits are in demand and ways for Australian growers to fill in any market gaps and niche opportunities that have previously gone begging.

 

Country                                    Fruit imported to China

Australia

-Citrus sinensis (Orange)
-Citrus reticulata (Mandarin)
-Citrus Limon (Lemon)
-Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit)
-Citrus aurantifolia, citrus latifolia, citrus limonia (Limes)
-Citrus tangelo (Tangelo)
-Mangifera indica (Mango)
-Malus domestica (Apple)
-Vitis Vinifera (Grape)
-Prunus avium (Cherry)

New Zealand 

-Citrus sinensis (Orange)
-Citrus reticulata, citrus deliciosa, citrus unshiu (Mandarins)
-Citrus limon, citrus meyeri (Lime)
-Malus domestica (Apple)
-Prunus avium (Cherry)
-Vitis Vinifera (Grape)
-Actinidia chinensis, actinidia deliciosa, actinidia deliciosaXactinidia chinensis (Kiwi fruit)
-Prunis salicina, prunus domestica (Plums)
-Pyrus pyrifolia, pyrus communis (Pears) -Prunus mume (Japanese apricot)

United States

-Prunus salicina, prunus domestica (Plums)
-Prunus avium (Cherry)
-Vitis Vinifera (Grape)
-Malus domestica (Apple)
-Pyrus pyrifolia (Pear)

Taiwan

-Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
-Musa sp (Banana)
-Cocos nucifera (Coconut)
-Annona squamosa, Annona cherimolaXannonasquamosa, atemoya (Cherimoyas)
-Chaenomeles sinensis (Pawpaw)
-Carica papaya (Papaya)
-Averrhoa carambola (Carambola)
-Mangifera indica (Mango)
-Psidium guajava (Guava)
-Syzygium samarangense (Rose apple)
-Areca catechu (Betel nut)
-Prunus salicina (Plum)
-Eriobotrya japonica (Loguat)
-Diospyros kaki (Persimmon)
-Prunus persica (Peach)
-Zizyphus mauritiana (Induan jujube)
-Hylocereus undatus, hylocereus polyrhizus, hylocereus costaricensis (Dragon fruit)
-Cucunmis melo (Cantaloupe)
-Pyrus pyrifolia (Pear)
-Vitis Vinifera, vitis labrusca and their hybrids (Grape)
-Citrus reticulata and its hybrids (Mandarin)
-Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit)
-Citrus limon (Lemon)
-Citrus sinensis (Orange)

 

Thailand

-Tararindus indica (Tamarind)
-Annona squamosa (Sugarapple)
-Carica papaya (Papaya)
-Averrhoa carambola (Carambola)
-Psidium guajava (Guava)
-Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan)
-Syzygium samarangense (Rose apple)
-Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit)
-Lansium paraciticum (Long kong)
-Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
-Manilkara zapota (Sapodilla)
-Musa sp (Banana)
-Passiflora edulis (Passionfruit)
-Cocos nucifera (Coconut)
-Dimocarpus longan (Longan)
-Durio zibethinus (Durian)
-Mangifera indica (Mango)
-Litchi chinensis (Litchi)
-Garcinia mangostana (Mongosteen)
-Citrus sinensis (Orange)
-Citrus reticulata (Mandarin)
-Citrus maxima (Pomelo)

Malaysia

-Dimocarpus longgana (Longan)
-Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen)
-Litchi chinensis (Litchi)
-Cocos nucifera (Coconut)
-Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
-Chaenomeles sinensis (Pawpaw)
-Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan)

Indonesia

-Musa nana (Banana)
-Dimocarpus longgana (Longan)
-Garcinia mangostana (Mantosteen)
-Salacca zalacca (Salacca)

Vietnam

-Mangifera Indica (Mango)
-Dimocarpus longgana (Longan)
-Musa sp (Banana)
-Litchi chinensis (Litchi)
-Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
-Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan)
-Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jackfruit)
-Hylocereus undulates (Pitaya)

Myanmar

-Dimocarpus longgana (Longan)
-Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen)
-Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan)
-Litchi chinensis (Litchi)
-Mangifera indica (Mango)
-Citrullus lanatus (Watermelon)
-Cucumis melo (Melon)
-Zizyphys mauritiana (Indian jujube)

Philippines

-Ananas comosus (Pineapple)
-Musa sp (Banana)
-Mangifera indica (Mango)
-Carica papaya (Papaya)

Israel

-Citrus sinensis (Orange)
-Citrus grandis, citrus paradisi (Grapefruit)
-Citrus reticulata (Mandarin)
-Citrus lemon (Lemon)

Chile

-Actinidia chinensis, actinidia deliciosa (Kiwi fruit)
-Malus domestica (Apple)
-Vitus Vinifera (Grape)
-Prunus salicina, prunus domoestica (Plum)
-Prunus avium (Cherry)
-Vaccinium spp (Blueberry)
-Persea Americana (Avocado)

Spain

-Citrus sinensis (Orange)
-Citrus reticulata (Mandarin)
-Citrus paradisi (Grapefruit)
-Citrus limon (Lemon)
-Prunus persica (Peach)
-Prunus domestica (Plum)

Source – AQSIQ China – General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China