"The supply season of honey pomelo is already approaching its end. The overall sales conditions were mediocre this season. In previous years, many pomelo exporters supplied large volumes to the Russian market towards the end of the supply season. In January of this year, however, Russia prohibited the import of Chinese citrus fruit. This prohibition includes honey pomelo. This policy change has a significant impact on Chinese pomelo export this season. The overall price is much lower than around this time last year."
"Looking back on the production season that is about to finish, there were other developments in addition to the falling export price that changed the pomelo market. There was a shift in the popularity of pomelo varieties. In recent years, the overall surface area devoted to the plantation of white pomelo was quite big and the annual supply volume was abundant. This year, however, market feedback showed that the white pomelo was not that popular with consumers. Many farmers grafted the branches of red pomelo and grapefruit on their white pomelo trees in response to changing market trends. Our production volume of white honey pomelo was reduced by around 40% because of these structural changes. The balance between white and red pomelo did not just change because farmers grafted red pomelo branches on white pomelo trees, but also because the red pomelo trees that have been planted in recent years are now entering the most productive stage of their life."
"As for grapefruits, the size of this fruit is much smaller than the red pomelo and the fruit peel is thinner. The grapefruit gained popularity in recent years and the overall surface area devoted to grapefruit plantation expanded. The production volume continues to grow. However, in comparison with other fruits the grapefruit is still a minor fruit in the Chinese fruit market. The price of grapefruit is therefore quite high, several times higher than the price of white pomelo."
"Future developments in the pomelo market are difficult to predict, but considering the relatively low price of other citrus fruits that enter the Chinese fruit market in large volumes and the fact that people are not satisfied with the quality of pomelo this year, we predict that the price of pomelo will remain stable until Chinese Spring Festival [25 January, 2020], but then the price will fall."
"Our most important export markets are currently in Europe, Canada, Ukraine, and Dubai. In the domestic market we mainly sell our pomelo to supermarkets such as Yonghui and Carrefour. Our pomelo sales in northeast China increase towards the end of the season. The northeast is quite cold, and consumer demand for pomelo grows when the temperature drops. This year we will participate in the Berlin Fruit Logistica on February 5-7, not only to meet with current clients, but also to find new clients with whom we can explore business opportunities. All visitors are welcome at our stand in hall 5.2 at booth B-11a."
For more information:
Edvin Wang
Xiamen Guanwei Import and Export Co., Ltd.
Tel.: +86 152 5964 1966
E-mail: info@xmguanwei.com