SA’s stone fruit industry is poised for a major boost after the signing of a landmark trade protocol with China, which opens the Asian giant’s market to five locally grown fruits for the first time.
Stone fruit refers to a category of fruit that contains a large, hard seed or “stone” inside.
Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen concluded the agreement with China’s General Administration of Customs in Shanghai on Tuesday, unlocking export potential for apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and prunes, calling it “a major breakthrough for SA fruit producers and exporters at a time when diversification is essential for our agricultural resilience”.
According to a statement by the department, this is also the first instance where China has negotiated access for multiple stone fruit types from a single country under one protocol.
“This protocol is part of a broader strategy to make SA agriculture less dependent on traditional buyers and more responsive to new consumption patterns such as China’s growing middle class which is driving demand for high-quality agricultural products”, Steenhuisen said.
China key to diversification
China has been SA’s largest trading partner for more than a decade. The country has long shown increased interest in SA’s fruits, as the SA government is prioritising improved market access for the agricultural sector by expanding existing markets and opening new ones for its products. The urgency to diversify markets has been reinforced by trade tensions with the US.
- New market access: China opens its market to five South African stone fruits under a single trade protocol for the first time.
- Economic lift: Exports could generate up to R800m in value and create close to 1,000 jobs over the next decade.
- Reduced dependence: Diversifies SA agriculture away from traditional markets such as the US and EU.
- Future expansion: Paves the way for possible access for cherries and blueberries and improved export infrastructure.
The deal comes at a strategically important time as local producers look to offset the negative effects of recently imposed US tariffs on plums. The stone fruit deal follows the first 21-tonne shipment of avocados to Shanghai in May.
While markets typically take years to develop, Steenhuisen estimates that the Chinese market could unlock about R400m in value over five years and as much as R800m within the next decade.
The inaugural 2025/26 export season alone could generate R28m in revenue, doubling to R54m the following year, based on conservative projections.
Chinese demand exceeds supply
China’s stone fruit demand is robust: in 2024, it imported more than 21-million cartons of peaches and nectarines, and 20-million cartons of plums — far exceeding SA’s seasonal export volumes. The country’s exports to China are expected to grow to 5% of total stone fruit volumes by 2032.
For local farmers, the benefits go beyond new revenue. The Chinese market’s appetite supports better prices and improved harvest utilisation. Opening the Chinese market would allow SA producers to export more of their harvests at more sustainable prices.
The anticipated growth could spark new on-farm investment and lead to the establishment of new orchards, creating an estimated 350 direct jobs and nearly 600 jobs over the next 10 years across related industries such as transport and packaging.
In a bid to deepen bilateral agricultural trade, Steenhuisen also invited Chinese technical experts to inspect local cherry and blueberry facilities, which could pave the way for further market access.
According to the department’s statement, infrastructure upgrades supported by Chinese investment — including enhancements to rail, ports and roads — are expected to ease logistics constraints and support faster delivery of SA fruit via Shanghai’s extensive sea and air freight networks.
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