In the past two weeks, vessels loaded with Chilean cherries have arrived at various ports. For example, at Guangzhou Jiangnan Market, cherries from three vessels have already reached the market, with a fourth vessel expected to dock on the evening of the 20th.
The increasing supply has driven prices down. Currently, sea-freight cherries in 5KG or 2-in-1 packaging Santina, J-grade, are priced at approximately ￥320-￥350 per box, while 2J-grade cherries are about ￥380 per box—representing a 20%-25% decrease compared to last week. The varieties available are becoming more diverse, including Lapin and Bing, with 2.5KG 4J-grade cherries selling for around ￥200 per box or higher. Traders report that the cherries from the first three vessels have shown relatively consistent quality, with good firmness, though surface damage is more common. Sales have been robust, and the market has absorbed much of the arrived stock with little surplus remaining.
Left: Chilean airfreight cherries; Right: Apples in Christmas gift boxes
Prices for air-shipped cherries from Chile and Argentina have also dropped. Some traders note that the increased availability of sea-freight cherries has slowed air-shipped sales.
Chilean avocado prices have declined compared to earlier levels and are currently around ￥120 per box. However, recent shipments have faced issues with uneven fruit sizes and surface defects.
Among other imported fruits, Peruvian blueberry prices remain stable, but sales have been slow. Durian arrivals are limited, with the price of Vietnamese Kanyao durians rising slightly. Meanwhile, prices for some Australian nectarines have fallen below ￥400.
Left: Chilean avocados; Right: Malaysian fresh durians
For domestic fruits, Gannan navel oranges are the season's primary offering. A trader mentioned that this year's navel orange prices are about 10%-15% lower than last year. However, their juiciness and flavor have improved. Sales have been mixed, with higher-quality, well-packaged brands performing better, while others see slower movement.
The supply of Hainan Golden Diamond pineapples is gradually increasing. Traders report that this year's pineapples are arriving a month earlier than usual and are priced about 10% lower than the same period last year. However, with a wide variety of fruits available in the market, most consumers tend to purchase pineapples after the New Year, resulting in slower current sales.
Left: Gannan navel oranges; Right: Apples in Christmas and New Year gift boxes
Meanwhile, domestic apple gift boxes, designed specifically for Christmas and New Year, are now available. Some of these boxes are newly introduced this year to gauge market response. Traders have observed a recent uptick in sales of apple gift boxes. Among them, extra-large gift boxes for Christmas featuring Chinese Luochuan apples are gaining popularity.