BEIJING: Pakistan has touched a significant milestone by exporting its first shipment of fresh cherries to China, the world’s largest cherry market.
Pakistan utilizing a reefer container aims to export 260 tonnes of fresh cherries to China by the end of June. The achievement is the outcome of a phytosanitary agreement signed between China and Pakistan in 2022, which gave access to Pakistani fresh cherries to the Chinese market.
Fruit farmers in Pakistan’s northern Gilgit-Baltistan region are hopeful that the development will give them new access to the Chinese market and will bolster the local economy.
Pakistan’s northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, known for its diverse fruit varieties such as sweet cherries, apricots, pears and apples benefits from an ideal environment
The cherries nourished by fresh stream waters and sustained by cool breezes from some of the world’s highest peaks, offer a delightful taste experience. Exporting fresh cherries to the Chinese market could improve the lives of local Pakistani growers significantly.
In Chinese culture cherries are given high regard due to their rich color as red traditionally symbolizes good fortune and their sweet and juicy flavor. Cherries are also gifted as presents, making both taste and appearance crucial factors. In China, preference is given to sweet, firm and red color cherries.
Pakistan despite its recent success faces challenges in becoming competitive in cherry production and processing on an international scale. Currently, Pakistani cherries have only reached a few global international markets, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This is largely because of the lack of local farmers in the processes and procedures required to register their products internationally. It is pertinent to mention that without proper guidance and modern technology, obtaining global certifications remains challenging, thus hampering their access to foreign high-end trading hubs.
Pakistani cherries facing tough competition
Pakistani cherries are also facing competition in the Chinese market from locally grown cherries from Shandong and Liaoning provinces. Chile is also a major exporter of fresh cherries to China. Kyrgyzstan is also one of the newly listed cherry exporters to China and it is highly likely that the Central Asian country will export up to 10,000 tonnes of fresh cherries to China in 2024. Additionally, some countries, such as Tajikistan, are also making inroads into the Chinese market.
Although Pakistan’s entry into the Chinese cherry market is a promising development, it will be crucial in the long run. Providing local cherry growers with the necessary guidance, knowledge and technology can help them meet global standards and tap into lucrative markets. With these improvements, Pakistan’s cherry industry could make a more significant impact on the international stage.
