Low demand for imported apples in China
China’s fruit demand was boosted last week by celebrations of Valentine’s Day and the traditional Lantern Festival (15 February), but demand overall has dropped significantly since the Chinese Spring Festival on 1 February. This has led to a sharp fall in the prices of many fruits, as new seasonal fruits begin to enter the market.
The price of a box of green apples is currently reported to be 25% less than before Spring Festival, and a similar story has been reported for Gala and Rose Red apples. The stone fruit situation is somewhat better, with Australian plums entering their peak sales period in February and Chilean plums expected to enter the market in March, arriving via air freight. Australian red grapes and Egyptian oranges are currently enjoying particularly high popularity among Chinese consumers.
