Fresh strawberry production in China is forecast to increase 20 per cent during the 2009/10 season to hit 1.8m tonnes, according to a new report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The rise is a result of increased acreage in Liaoning, Shandong, Hebei and Sichuan provinces, born out of competitive returns over the past three years. Strawberry production acreage is estimated at 120,000ha for 2009, the USDA said.
Exports of the country's fresh strawberries are expected to remain minimal, according to the report, having seen a huge decline in recent years as a result of a decrease in shipments to Hong Kong.
In 2008, 360 tonnes of Chinese strawberries went for export, with 80 per cent heading for Russia and the rest divided between Thailand and Vietnam. This contrasts with the 2,423 tonnes exported in 2005 when Hong Kong was the largest market, but the country did not import any strawberries from China last year.
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