Fengjie County in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality has signed export contracts for more than 10,000 tons of navel oranges with companies from Singapore and Malaysia during a recent promotional event.
Known historically as a citrus-producing region dating back to the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.–220 A.D.), Fengjie has shifted toward large-scale commercial production over the past two decades. After the closure of small coal mines and the rehabilitation of degraded land, locals began planting navel oranges, a crop suited to hillside terrain that also helps prevent soil erosion.
By 2024, Fengjie had 25,533 hectares of navel orange orchards, producing around 507,000 tons annually, according to the county's Navel Orange Industry Development Center. The industry generated an estimated US$912 million in comprehensive output value, while the Fengjie brand reached a market value of US$5.36 billion, ranking 20th among China's top 100 geographical indication agricultural brands.
"The pesticide residue standards in supermarkets in Singapore are extremely strict, yet our oranges consistently pass inspection," said Zhou Jian from Chongqing Kuimen International Import and Export Trading Co., Ltd. The statement reflects Fengjie's integrated quality control framework covering cultivation, harvesting, and processing.
Local growers are increasingly adopting digital management tools to improve efficiency. "We now have a 'secret weapon' for orange growing," said farmer Liu Huanyu, referring to the "Fengjie Navel Orange Industry Brain," a digital platform that integrates product traceability with Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring. The system uses soil sensors, pest detection, precision fertilization, drone-based spraying, and automated irrigation to manage orchard operations in real time.
Each exported box of Fengjie navel oranges includes a unique QR code providing traceability details, such as orchard origin, fertilization records, and test results, aimed at ensuring transparency for overseas buyers.
Fengjie's export development began under the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity. In 2022, the first shipment of navel oranges reached Singapore via sea-rail intermodal transport. In 2023, a dedicated cold-chain air route reduced delivery times to within 24 hours. In 2024, 500 kilograms of premium navel oranges were sent to a tasting event in Singapore, attracting interest from local retailers.
With ongoing government support, Fengjie is working to expand export volumes through participation in international exhibitions, including the Singapore Food Expo, and through on-site visits by foreign buyers. The county continues to build its export infrastructure and engage with logistics platforms such as the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and Yumaotong.
Fengjie currently hosts 70 foreign trade enterprises, exporting navel oranges to 18 countries and regions across Southeast Asia and the Middle East, with annual export volumes exceeding 9,000 tons.
Source: People's Daily Online
