The General Administration of Customs of China (AGA) has published the register of Spanish entities authorized to export cherries to this Asian country, which means that sales can now begin. However, in practice, no fruit will be marketed until the 2026 campaign, as the cherry harvest has already finished in Spain's main producing areas.
The authorization of exports has put an end to a complex negotiation process that has lasted several years. In 2024, technicians from the Chinese government visited cherry-producing areas in Spain. On April 11 this year, the Spanish Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, and the Minister of the General Administration of Customs of China, Sun Meijun, met in Beijing to sign the protocol for the export of Spanish cherries. This was done in the framework of the trip to the Asian country by Spanish President Pedro Sánchez.
Chinese customs authorities will carry out compulsory audits prior to the start of exports. On June 9, 12, and 13, the AGA carried out a video audit on a number of plots and warehouses registered for the cherry export campaign in China in order to verify compliance with the phytosanitary protocol. Lastly, on August 14, the AGA published the register of authorized entities, and the market became officially open.
The protocol dictates that the processing, packaging, storage, and transport of cherries intended for export will be carried out under the supervision of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, which will also be responsible for ensuring that only cherries from registered orchards can enter the packing warehouse for sorting and processing. The protocol will be in force for three years.
"Cherry production has continued to grow in recent years, so any new market that can be opened up will always have a positive impact," says Mónica Tierno, general manager of the Agrupación de Cooperativas del Valle del Jerte. "We are one of the entities that have carried out the registration process to export to China, which includes meeting a fairly strict cold treatment protocol. For this reason, the sector generally believes that it is important to start with small trials, but with high quality, and then grow over time."
Because of its potential, the Chinese market is strategic for the Spanish agro-food sector. In 2024, Spain exported agro-food products to China worth 1,864 million euros, with a positive balance of 253 million euros. China is Spain's ninth largest market in terms of value and the third largest non-EU market after the United Kingdom and the United States.
