China: Low prices for imported Chilean kiwis at beginning of the season

"This year, the production season of Chilean kiwis started two weeks earlier than in previous years, at the beginning of April. It is estimated that it will continue until the middle of August. Currently, the sales situation on the Chinese market is quite worrisome," according to Mr. Mike Wang from Altaifresh Limited.

"In previous seasons, the early prices for Chilean kiwis on the Chinese market was around 160yuan/10kg. In the middle of the season, it gets to between 90 and 120 yuan, but this year is quite unusual. At the beginning of the season, the price was only what they usually fetch in the middle of the season. This is caused by several market factors."

"Every year between March and May is the end of the Chinese kiwi season. The quality of domestic produce is very unstable at that time. That is why the Chilean kiwis, which enter the market in April, fill in this gap on the market. Usually, from the beginning of June, the quantity of Chilean kiwis starts to drop, and the price begins to rise."

"After we purchased the high quality green Hayward kiwis from Chile through the port of Hong Kong, we sell them to markets and supermarkets in Guangzhou and Jiangnan through traditional sales methods. According to earlier contacts with suppliers, the production volume of Chilean kiwis is the same as last year. However, they do not fit the requirements of the Chinese market. Looking back over the past few years, Chilean kiwis have developed very fast on the Chinese market. The sales volume has been rising year after year. On the one hand, this is because of the high quality of the kiwis. On the other hand, exporters of Chilean fruits and vegetables have gotten more and more familiar with the Chinese trade partners and the market."