Russian Imports Of Chinese Citrus Have Increased Significantly, Up 2.4 Times Year-on-year!

Russian imports of mandarin oranges from China in the first 10 months of this year rose 2.4 times year-on-year to 48,500 tons (worth $46.6 million), according to Chinese statistics, Sputnik reported. October supply increased 1.5 times year-on-year, reaching the largest volume of 11,178 tonnes (worth $11.83 million) since December last year. Russia became the fifth largest buyer of Chinese citrus in the first 10 months. First place went to Vietnam with 166,300 tonnes, followed by Kyrgyzstan (88,300 tonnes), Indonesia (51,800 tonnes) and Thailand (51,600 tonnes). Turkey, one of the smaller suppliers of citrus to Russia, saw its supply fall by a fifth in January-October to 161,300 tonnes, compared with 202,300 tonnes in the same period in 2023.

In recent years, the export of Chinese citrus to Russia has shown a good trend. Since the beginning of 2024, 900 tons of citrus has been exported from China to Russia through the Houbaigarsk port of fresh fruits and vegetables. Since January 2024, the volume of citrus crops imported from China has increased sharply in the Vaibaikal Krai. A total of 10,108 tons were imported in January, an increase of 1.5 times compared with January 2023, of which the import of citrus and fruit crops from China increased by 5 times year-on-year, reaching 1,964 tons. From the value dimension, from January to September 2024, China's exports of fruits and products to Russia amounted to US $325 million, of which citrus fruits accounted for US $80 million, an increase of 112.7%, becoming a key supporting force for agricultural exports to Russia.

At different times in 2024, the export of citrus from different producing areas in China has achieved remarkable results. For example, Nanping Shunchang exported 200 tons of citrus to Russia for the first time, with a total order volume of 1,000 tons and a value of 6 million yuan; Liujia town and Dongjia Town in Rongxian County of Sichuan Province have sent a total of more than 2.6 million jin of "Chunmi" citrus to Russia. In northern Fujian, only Shunchang County has 39 recent export orders, and the value of goods exceeds 1.6 million yuan. In 2023, Nanzhang County of Xiangyang, Hubei Province exported more than 25,000 tons of citrus to Russia and other countries, earning nearly 3 million US dollars in foreign exchange, and in 2024, six containers of nearly 150 tons of citrus are sent directly to Russia every day, which can be reached on the 15th. Huining citrus early maturing quality, annual export of about 44,000 tons to Russia and other countries; Taizhou citrus regain export "pass", Yongquan tangerine is expected to bloom again in the Russian market.

This year, the export of Chinese fruits to Russia, represented by citrus, has increased significantly for the following reasons. On the one hand, Russia's own fruit production has been reduced by natural disasters. A frost in May this year affected Russia's fruit and vegetable production, especially the Central Federal District 50-70% of the flowering apple trees were damaged, the overall fruit production decreased by about 200,000 tons, Russia had to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables from other countries. On the other hand, the deepening cooperation between China and Russia in economic, political and other fields has provided more opportunities for bilateral trade. For example, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Russian Federation on Strengthening Agricultural Cooperation, signed in 2019, clearly states that it is necessary to strengthen trade in agricultural products and support enterprises of the two countries to carry out various forms of cooperation. In addition, the Russian Far East has a bad climate, short frost-free period, which is not suitable for fruit cultivation, fruit has long relied on imports, and its vegetable supply also has seasonal shortfalls, and anti-season demand is strong. China's citrus has precise docking demand and stable market position by virtue of price, variety and quantity advantages.