May and June mark the sales season for imported cherries from Central Asia in the Chinese market. This primarily includes cherries from Tajikistan starting in mid-May and from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan starting in mid-June.
Mr. Zhu Jianfeng from Zhejiang Feishina E-Commerce Co., Ltd. is monitoring the market performance of Central Asian cherries: "Central Asian cherries have distinct characteristics. For instance, Uzbek cherries are naturally cultivated, have a high Brix level, and are priced lower than other imported cherries. This year's prices are similar to previous years and have slightly decreased. However, the rapid development of Chinese cherries has further impacted Central Asian cherries."
"When Central Asian cherries enter the market, cherries from Shandong, Shaanxi, and other regions in China are also available in large quantities. Chinese cherries have good color and quality and do not incur tariffs or cross-border freight costs. This year, the increase in domestic cherry production has caused prices to fall, and their relatively higher cost-effectiveness has further squeezed the market share, affecting the performance of Central Asian cherries."
"Customers still inquire about Central Asian cherries, but most are inquiring and waiting. As a result, we have adjusted our sales strategy to an order-based model."
Mr. Zhu elaborated on the details of Central Asian cherries: "The market has a greater demand for Uzbek cherries due to their large production capacity, industrial sorting, and better control over varieties. Cherries from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have lower production capacities and are manually sorted. The primary sales regions are in southern China, such as Zhejiang and Guangdong."
Feishina is the exclusive agent for the first export of Uzbek cherries to China. The company is currently engaged in commodity import and export trade between Central Asia and China, as well as express delivery and logistics business.
Zhu Jianfeng