The Huangguan pears from Hebei, China, have now been harvested and stored. Reports indicate that the volume of fresh pears directly exported from the production areas immediately after picking has increased this season, with the stored pears scheduled for export starting at the end of August. "Market demand has risen, and overall, China's fresh pear export market is performing better than last year," said Mr. Gavin Bian, Chairman of Hebei Tianbo Fruit.
"This season's growing period saw dry, rainless conditions, resulting in a 25% drop in production. Additionally, extreme weather led to more blemishes and sunburn on Huangguan pears, significantly reducing the proportion of high-quality commercial fruit compared to last year. Consequently, storage rates fell by about a quarter. On the other hand, the reduced rainfall has enhanced the sweetness and taste of the pears. Post-harvest direct sales from production areas to both domestic and international markets have shown improvement over last year."
"In terms of varieties, Huangguan pears remain the most popular, dominating market share. Meanwhile, the traditional Ya pear variety has seen declining numbers. Currently, the primary export markets for Ya pears include Indonesia, Malaysia, the United States, Canada, and Russia. Notably, the Yuluxiang and Hongxiangsu pear varieties are gaining increased market share internationally and are developing rapidly."
Discussing the current state of the pear export market, Gavin noted that post-pandemic purchasing power in the fresh pear sector has been impacted by factors like fluctuating exchange rates, political instability in countries such as Bangladesh, the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the growing trade barriers in some importing countries. "Despite these challenges, this season's pears have a great taste, market demand is up, and overall performance has improved compared to last year. The current export price of fresh pears is about 20% lower than last year, yet export volumes have increased."
"Meanwhile, certain export markets have seen substantial growth, including Central Asia, Vietnam, and Indonesia."
Left: Yuluxiang Pear; Right: Hongxiangsu Pear
Hebei Tianbo Fruit Industry primarily produces Huangguan, Ya, Hongxiangsu, and Yuluxiang pears. Among these, Yuluxiang pears have increased in export share due to their excellent taste. The company exported over 30,000 tons of fresh pears last season, with markets spanning Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Russia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South Africa.
Tianbo Fruit will be exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong from September 4 to 6. Visit the company at Booth 5S32 in Hall 5 for discussions and exchanges.