Chinese get taste for strawberries in a big way

China's strawberry growers, already the world's biggest, are to ramp up output by 30% this year, and even then will only be able to match growth in domestic consumption, US Department of Agriculture staff believe. The dynamics provide a glimmer of hope to rivals in the frozen strawberry export market, which were trounced last year as China lifted shipments by 12%, cementing its top spot. The worst flooding in more than 140 years dashed hoped for Poland, the second-ranked exporter, sending strawberry output down by 14%, and prompting major markets such as Germany and Russia to turn to China for supplies of frozen fruit.
Exports vs imports
However, while China's frozen strawberry exports are set, at 110,500 tonnes, to see only marginal growth this year, as domestic consumption soars, the country is not about to add the fruit to the likes of cotton, corn and soybeans of which it has become a net importer. China's purchases of foreign strawberries, while rising by 5%, will hit only 11,000 tonnes this year with much of this re-exported to Europe and Japan in the form of freeze-dried fruit added, for example, to breakfast cereals and juice. Chile accounts for most of China's imports, with a 70% share, with Argentina, Egypt and Morocco accounting for the balance.
In demand
China's growers are expected to dedicate 105,000 hectares to strawberries this year, a 14% rise, with the rest of the increase in output predicated on an assumption of better weather than last year, when cold weather held back yields. The increased adoption of the fruit by farmers comes despite a jump in production costs of 30% last year, thanks to higher plant and labour costs.
However, prices for fresh fruit increased even further, more than doubling to 3-4 yuan ($0.20-0.17) a kilogramme, from about 1-2 yuan ($0.07-0.14) a kilogramme. Processed fruits are also growing in popularity, with strawberry-flavoured jelly, jams, ice cream and yoghurt in demand, "especially among young and female consumers", the USDA officials said.