Brazil, the world’s third-largest fruit producer, is putting more fruits on more shelves around the world. The Chinese market is on the country’s expansion list, and Brazilian grapes are expected to gain access in a year or two. The two countries are currently discussing a phytosanitary agreement for grapes, avocados, and lemons. Guilherme Coelho, chairman of Abrafrutas, a Brazilian fruit and by-product exporters association, said: "The (certification) process for grapes is faster." It is estimated that access to the Chinese market for this product can be gained in one year and a half, and the sales potential is 9 million US dollars.
Brazil’s Minister of Agriculture Tereza Cristina recently stated that the country hopes to export some of its key fruits, such as grapes and mangoes, to China. She emphasized that Brazil is currently the world's third-largest fruit producer, but it is not a major fruit exporter. If new products are able to enter the Chinese market, this may change. At present, the only fruit Brazil exports to China is melons.
"We are working hard because Brazil has huge potential, but its export industry is still in its infancy. We want to see if we can open the Chinese market for Brazilian grapes this year. This high-quality fruit is grown on the banks of the Petrolina and San Francisco rivers. We are also looking at exporting other fruits to China, such as mangoes. We have already been exporting them to other countries." Cristina said.
According to Abrafrutas, thanks to the favorable exchange rate and the pursuit of healthy foods, Brazilian exporters plan to increase overseas sales by 15% this year to 1 billion U.S. dollars. In the first half of this year, they have reached the export target of 440 million U.S. dollars.
Brazil is the third-largest fruit producer in the world, with a yearly production of 45 million tons. The industry employs 5 million people.
Source: Fruit Critic