The Spanish stonefruit sector is getting ready to make its first shipments to China this year. It is the result of the recent approval of a provisional protocol, signed by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Chinese authorities. Spain will thus become the first country in the world authorised to export peaches, nectarines and flat peaches to China.
The sector agrees that the Chinese market can help decongest the European market, as has been the case in recent seasons, with prices that have dropped due to oversupply.
It is worth noting that the Canton region is the gateway to 70% of China's horticultural imports. Its proximity to Hong Kong strengthens its position as the main distribution centre for imported fruits.
"We expect to start the first exports to China this year. The work carried out to open a trade route to China is well underway after the registration of the farms," explains Joaquín Gómez, president of the Association of Producers and Exporters of stonefruit, table grapes and other agricultural products in the Region of Murcia, APOEXPA.
"Our plan is to reach the market both by sea and by air," points out Joaquín Gómez. Given that the transit time by sea is relatively long, we want Chinese consumers to become familiar with the quality of our peach and nectarine varieties in the best possible conditions, and this will be possible if we make frequent shipments by air."
More cautious, although not less enthusiastic, is the manager of the Association of Fruit Growers of Extremadura (Afruex), Miguel Ángel Gómez. "I believe that the opening of this market will be very positive because of the possibilities it will provide. Nevertheless, during the first few months our strategy would be 'tentative', since it is a distant market with significant challenges in terms of logistics."
The Ministry of Agriculture has launched a computer program so that anyone in the Spanish stonefruit sector interested in exporting to China can meet the different requirements, from the inspection of plantations to the phytosanitary conditions.