Interview: The growth of fruit exports to China reflects the win-win cooperation between South Africa and China. South Africa | Economy and Trade | Export
Johannesburg, August 20th (Xinhua) - Interview with Paul Hardman, Chief Operating Officer of the South African Citrus Planting Association: The Growth of Fruit Exports to China Reflects the South China Double Win Cooperation
Xinhua News Agency reporter Lv Chengcheng and Xie Jiang
Paul Hardman, Chief Operating Officer of the South African Citrus Planting Association, recently stated in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that an increasing number of South African citrus fruits are being exported to China, enriching the choices of Chinese consumers, promoting the development of related industries in South Africa, and driving local employment. This is a manifestation of win-win economic and trade cooperation between South and China.
This is a citrus farm captured on May 24, 2023 in the northwest province of South Africa.
![Interview: The growth of fruit exports to China reflects the win-win cooperation between South Africa and China. South Africa | Economy and Trade | Export](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/86dda2db672d2f4f8d2ac46c7dccc6f9.jpg)
South Africa has been exporting citrus fruits, including lemons, to China since 2006. Hardman told reporters that at the end of August 2021, the General Administration of Customs of China adjusted relevant import quarantine requirements, making it more convenient for South African citrus fruits to be exported to China, which brings significant opportunities for South African growers and exporters to export to China.
Hardman said that South Africa is one of the important exporters of lemons globally, and the growth potential of the Chinese market is enormous. By 2024, South Africa is expected to export 25000 tons of lemons to China annually, which will create more export revenue and employment opportunities for South Africa.
It is reported that in 2022, South Africa's citrus fruit exports provided employment opportunities for 140000 local people and generated approximately $1.6 billion in export revenue.
On May 24th, workers were loading and unloading citrus fruits at a juice factory in the northwest province of South Africa.
![Interview: The growth of fruit exports to China reflects the win-win cooperation between South Africa and China. South Africa | Economy and Trade | Export](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/77fca6ba6b8c21a91c9d0f89ad7b7db1.jpg)
In addition to lemons, South Africa also exports citrus fruits such as grapefruit and oranges to China, as well as various high-quality products such as kiwifruit, beef, and wine. China has been South Africa's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years, and South Africa has been China's largest trading partner in Africa for 13 consecutive years.
Hardman said that the growth of citrus fruit exports to China is one of the achievements of practical economic and trade cooperation between South China and China. "We are very optimistic about the future prospects of South China trade and believe that fruit trade with China will continue to benefit both sides," he said.