Conditions in the Guangzhou Fruit Market are more or less the same this week as in the previous two weeks. Saturday the 18th of June was an online shopping holiday and close to Father's Day as well, and the effect on fruit sales was clear.
South African apples and oranges gradually enter the Guangzhou Market one after the other. According to one apple trader the best-selling South African import apples are Fuji apples. Their sales conditions are quite good, and they have taken the leading market position from New Zealand apples.
The price and product quality of South African import apples is the same as last year, around 200 yuan [29.78 USD] per box, and the flavor is not bad. Meanwhile the supply volume of New Zealand apples is in decline and the price is going up to nearly 400 yuan [59.55 USD] per box. Although the apple varieties, sizes, and characteristics are all different, the import apples from South Africa have a clear price advantage and are therefore more popular.
South African oranges (left) and South African apples (right)
Import apples
The citrus market is more complicated: traders who sell South African sweet oranges and navel oranges say that sales figures are great, but traders who sell US oranges and South African grapefruit do not see much difference with before. Product movement slightly slowed down. As for import grapes, the market is dominated by Australian import grapes, but their sales season is coming to an end. The overall supply volume is getting smaller. Meanwhile, the domestic grape market is growing. Domestic Shine Muscat grapes can be found in any stall.
Blueberries (left) and Shandong cherries (right)
The price of domestic blueberries is coming down by 10%-20%. Market purchase power is slightly weakening. The supply volume of bunched blueberries, as opposed to loose blueberries, is growing. Domestic Shine Muscat grapes are very popular. One trader explained that the overall surface area devoted to Shine Muscat grapes has expanded since last year, and the number of traders who sell these grapes is growing too. As a result, market competition is increasing. Traders are not pleased with poor product movement and profit margins.
Yellow peaches (left) and honey peaches (right)
This is the season for peaches in China, including honey peaches and yellow peaches. The sales conditions are slightly fluctuating. One trader who sells a variety of peaches said that product movement recently slowed down. The Yangshan honey peach, for example, was quite popular last year but does not sell as well now. The reason is that purchasing power has weakened. Another reason is that the flavor of peaches was better last year.
Hainan Black Iron wax apples
The supply season of Hainan wax apples is strong. The current favorite is the Black Iron wax apple variety. The product quality and flavor are excellent, and this is the height of their sales season. Shandong cherries entered the market in June, but the supply season comes to an end when the month is over. The price is lower than in previous years and the flavor better, but product movement still slowed down.
Traders estimate that weakened purchasing power is the reason for this situation. Domestic yellow dragon fruit does not sell as well as traders were expecting. Boxes with 6 regular-sized pieces of yellow dragon fruit are more expensive, but also more popular, than boxes of 8 regular-sized pieces of yellow dragon fruit. There is still a market preference for slightly larger yellow dragon fruit. The market also offers a variety of lychee, including a small volume of Rice Cake lychee, which recently entered the market. The supply volume is small and the product quality high, so product movement is quick.
Other fruits that sell well include pineapples from the Philippines, sugar apples from Thailand, oranges from Chongqing, and apricots from Xinjiang. Traders indicate that sales conditions are stable and product movement regular. One trader of Southeast Asian fruits also mentioned that Thai mangosteen is very popular in the Guangzhou Fruit Market.