South Africa Sends First Stone Fruit Shipment to China in Major Trade Breakthrough

South Africa has reached a landmark moment in agricultural trade with the departure of the country's first-ever consignment of stone fruit exports to China, opening a major new market for the local deciduous fruit industry.

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, joined by the Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Wu Peng, visited the Freshness First Packhouse in Franschhoek on 18 February 2026, where the inaugural shipment was prepared for export.

The first consignment includes around 20,000 cartons of premium plums, featuring the popular African Delight and Ruby Star varieties.

The shipment marks the official start of the stone fruit trade protocol between South Africa and China — a development expected to significantly boost export diversification, grower competitiveness and rural economic growth.

"A Strategic Necessity for South Africa's Agricultural Resilience"

Speaking at the event, Steenhuisen described the opening of the Chinese market as essential for South Africa's long-term economic growth.

"Today, the Chinese market is a strategic necessity, not merely an opportunity for South Africa's agricultural resilience," the Minister said.

"This is a milestone that Ambassador Peng and I have worked toward together… and today we have realised it."

0% Tariff Access Strengthens Global Competitiveness

The breakthrough follows the signing of a bilateral agreement granting South African stone fruit 0% tariff access to the Chinese market.

This provides local growers with a significant competitive advantage and strengthens South Africa's ability to expand exports amid shifting global trade pressures.

Diversification Drive Targets Major Growth in China

China imports an estimated $200 billion worth of agricultural products annually, yet South Africa currently holds only a 0.4% market share.

Steenhuisen said South Africa is aiming to expand its presence substantially, with plans to double the current R400 million export value within four years.

"South Africa does have the capacity to provide the quality and quantity of fruit that consumers in China will enjoy," he said.

The Minister added that the protocol will help offset the impact of tariffs imposed by other trading partners, particularly on plums.

Next Expansion: Cherries and Blueberries

The plum shipment represents the first phase of a broader market access strategy.

Steenhuisen confirmed that government is in the final stages of concluding a cherries trade protocol, with a blueberries protocol expected later this year.

This signals growing momentum in South Africa's efforts to expand high-value horticultural exports into Asia.

Industry Praised for Meeting Strict Standards

The Minister commended growers, packhouse workers and industry leaders for meeting China's rigorous phytosanitary and quality requirements.

Their efforts, he said, were instrumental in securing this breakthrough and positioning South African fruit as a premium offering for Chinese consumers.

A New Era for South Africa's Deciduous Fruit Industry

The first stone fruit shipment to China marks more than a single export milestone — it represents a strategic expansion of South Africa's agricultural trade footprint, supporting:

• Rural job creation

• Market diversification

• Export growth

• Greater resilience against global tariff shocks

With demand rising in Asia and new protocols underway, South Africa's deciduous fruit sector is poised for a major new chapter of growth.