The first Latin American cherries of the 2025–26 season have arrived in China, marking the start of the early supply window in the country's top cherry import market and positioning Argentina ahead of Chile's main export wave.
Harvested in mid-November, the first Argentine shipments are targeting premium supermarkets and e-commerce channels before larger Southern Hemisphere volumes arrive in early December. Imported cherries continue to play a role in Chinese New Year gifting.
For exporter Extraberries in Buenos Aires, this early timing is central to its Asia strategy. Agustina Quiroga, who manages the company's commercial operations in the region, said, "Our key operation centers on an early production window that begins in mid-November, which allows us to reach China with the correct product: The size, color, and quality that the market demands." She added, "Argentina cannot compete with Chile on volume, but it can compete on quality."
Extraberries sources fruit from early producing orchards in Chimpay and the Rio Negro region. Cherries are harvested, packed, and cooled quickly before being flown to Asia. Quiroga said, "Air logistics provides a comparative advantage over Chile and is the method we prefer."
Shipments to China follow specific sampling and preparation protocols. "Chinese shipments require specific methods of sampling and preparation," Quiroga said. "Once a shipment is presented and prepared for China, I can divert it to other destinations, but I cannot divert a shipment bound for Europe in the same way."
Chile continues to dominate global cherry exports. According to agricultural engineer Marcela Molina from the University of Chile, Chilean shipments for 2025–26 are projected at 131 million boxes, about 655,000 metric tons. Chile's broad planted area and varietal mix allow for a long shipping season. Air shipments are underway, and sea freight is increasing. Molina said sea shipments begin in early to mid-November, depending on regional climatic conditions.
She noted that the Cherry Express service, launched in 2015–2016, ships fruit directly from Valparaiso and San Antonio to China in 22–23 days, with stops in Hong Kong. Additional destinations such as Nansha, Shanghai, and Tianjin were added later.
Wholesale data from iQfruits shows early season vessel arrivals reached 47.20 yuan per kilo, about US$6.67, in the first week of January, compared with 32.10 yuan a year earlier. Prices dropped to 26.20 yuan by early March as supply increased.
Molina said producers are adapting to climate variability through protective covers, orchard relocation to cooler areas, and the adoption of lower chilling varieties.
Source: ChinaDaily
