It is now a year since middle and upper class Chinese consumers started consuming Extremaduran plums. The ones arriving in Shanghai are premium quality, of great size, which has resulting in them reaching high prices and becoming a flagship product. Last summer, Extremadura was the first autonomous region in Spain to export stonefruit to the Asian giant, thus opening a key commercial route for its international shipments, since Extremadura is home to 80% of the national production (followed far behind by Murcia and Andalusia). These were the first steps in a business that looks promising, with prospects of constant growth.
While Extremaduran plum exports to China totalled 900 tonnes in 2016, this year the volume is expected to be greater. "The first containers (about 20,000 kilos each) of this campaign departed a month and a half ago. Last year, we could not start until early August, so this time we believe we'll achieve better results," points out Miguel Ángel Gómez, Manager of the Association of Extremaduran Fruit Producers (Afruex). Gómez adds that although the volume intended for this commercial route is still small (it must be taken into account that the region produces more than 90,000 tonnes of plum annually), the objective is to continue betting on the Asian market, whose size makes it extremely attractive. In fact, when the authorization for the first exports was granted last summer, the news was very celebrated in the sector.
Highly demanded
This stonefruit has the advantage of being highly demanded in China. So far, European countries and Brazil have been the main destinations for Extremadura's production, which is the most important in the country and one of the greatest in the world, along with regions of Chile, which already exports to China, and the United States.
Plums can endure shipments by sea of up to 30 days (although exports are also made by plane), and this will make it possible to continue opening new international markets.
Phytosanitary control
The manager of Afruex recalls that last year's campaign in the Asian giant opened with a first batch of 400 tonnes shipped during the month of August after overcoming several difficulties, including the strict phytosanitary controls on the products.
It is worth remembering that this trade agreement was the result of a process that started in 2012 with the collaboration of the governments of Extremadura and Spain, which aimed for the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ) to authorise the exports. It did so in July 2016, creating a great opportunity for Extremadura.
Source: lacronicabadajoz.com
