China Market Is Open For Avocados From New Zealand
TAURANGA, Wednesday 31st January 2018: New Zealand Avocado is very excited by the opportunity to export avocados to
China in the 2018 season following a successful technical audit of the regulatory system for exporting this week. The
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and
Quarantine (AQSIQ) signed the protocol to agree export requirements in November 2017, and a successful audit was the
final step in enabling the export of avocados to China.
The New Zealand industry has been seeking access for four years and through that time has been building an understanding
of the market, with exporters building relationships in the China market. NZ Avocado has attended the China
International Fruit and Vegetable Fair in Beijing for the last four years, on the New Zealand stand with other
horticulture sectors.
“Gaining access to China for our avocados has been a key focus for the board,” says Tony Ponder, Chair of NZ Avocado.
“We recognised the need to commit to that market with regular visits to build relationships at a political and
commercial level.”
NZ Avocado will airfreight a trial shipment to Shanghai in the current season, which will be enjoyed by kiwis at a New
Zealand Trade and Enterprise arranged event at NZ Central. Zespri staff at their China head office in Shanghai will also
enjoy some avocados from the trial shipment.
Avocado imports into China are increasing very strongly as Chinese consumers learn about the impressive nutritional
properties of avocados. Mexico, Peru and Chile are the only other countries with access to the huge Chinese market.
The global demand for avocados has certainly hit China, says Jen Scoular, CEO of NZ Avocado.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer avocados from New Zealand to consumers, who are keen to add avocados to their daily
diet.”
“Recent research about avocados from New Zealand show that avocados grown in New Zealand have 20 percent more folate and
twice as much vitamin B6 than avocados grown elsewhere, and we will be exploring our messaging in China in regard to
that differentiation,” says Scoular.
The 2018 export season starts in August, and the first shipments are likely to be in mid to late September, reports
Alistair Petrie, Chair of the Avocado Export Council.
“We have been anticipating access to China for some time and it is exciting to now have the opportunity. We have
established relationships in China and will work with them to develop niche markets for our avocados,” says Petrie.
Ponder acknowledges the extensive work, support and cooperation by MPI, AQSIQ officials, and New Zealand Avocado - this
work has enabled significant progress in New Zealand’s trade with China. He acknowledges the growers and packer involved
in the trial who he says put in significant time and resource on behalf of the industry to ensure this last step was
successful.
-ENDS-