Zhangzhou port exports large volumes of fresh fruit to the EU, Russia and ASEAN countries. Citrus accounts for more than 90% of all export. Every year, 120 thousand tons of honey pomelos are exported, mainly to the EU and Russia. 50 thousand tons of mandarins are exported every year, mainly to Indonesia.
Last seasons export of fresh fruit from Zhangzhou substantially increased. For the first half 2015, 886 batches of fruit worth about 47 million US dollar were exported to ASEAN countries. A 165% increase in volume and 235% increase in value compared to last year. ASEAN is becoming the largest fruit and vegetable export market for Zhangzhou.
Prices of pomelos, however, are low. “Prices of Zhangzhou pomelo are lower than those from different origins. Prices even went down to 6.50 Euro per box in the last production season, which resulted in severe financial loss”, according to the secretary-general Zhiyi Zhu from Honey Pomelo Export Guild in Pinghe County. He considers that the low price of pomelo was caused by the large volume of export within a short period of 3 to 4 months, of which 60% were exported to the EU.
Honey pomelos from Zhangzhou also suffer from quality problems which results in a lower market share. Although export of fresh fruit from Zhangzhou to ASEAN countries has increased during the last season, a decline of 20% occurred in the total export of pomelo.