Domestic output climbs as new growing areas come on stream, while imports also continue to rise
China is on course to produce 900,000 tonnes of cherries in 2025/26, 6 per cent more than last season, according to the USDA-FAO’s newly released annual report on the Chinese stonefruit sector.
The hike is the result of new acreage and improved crop management. The report said increased investment and improved cultivation techniques is bringing about an improvement in fruit quality.
China had 199,000ha of cherry orchards in the 2024/25 season and this is expected to increase to 205,000ha in 2025/26. While planting areas remain stable in traditional production regions such as Shandong and Liaoning, expansion is underway in other provinces such as Sichuan and Xinjiang. Although natural conditions are less favourable, greenhouse cultivation has driven the development of the local cherry industry in these two provinces.
The main variety grown under cover is Meizao (Bing, a popular early-maturing variety) Production of Russian No. 8 and Summit is also steadily increasing. For open-field cultivation, farmers tend to prefer Meizao, Russian No. 8, Brooks, Kordia, Lapins, and Rainier.
According to the USDA, there is strong demand among growers for varietal improvements, and new varieties continue to be introduced to the country. In Sichuan, for example, local growers have developed three new cultivars – Shuzaomei, Shuzimei, and Shuguimei – known for their early maturation, long shelf-life, and high yields. Other emerging varieties, such as Rocket and Linglongcui, have also entered the market, although current production volumes remain limited.
The report states that prices have declined steadily in recent years due to increased market supply. “Concentrated harvesting and the marketing of important domestic varieties, such as Meizao, have led to short-term supply spikes, increasing pressure on retail prices,” it said.
“In the 2024/25 season, an oversupply of Chilean cherries led to a sharp drop in prices, further reducing profit margins on domestic cherries, particularly those grown in greenhouses. For example, a greenhouse grower in Dalian reported that its Meizao cherries were purchased at around 70 Chinese yuan (US$9.75) per kilogram, a 15 per cent decrease from the previous season.
“With the expected continued growth in the supply of Chilean cherries, prices could fall further in the 2025/26 season. However, large, high-quality cherries can still fetch a premium, while smaller ones generally sell at a discount.”
Driven by increased global and domestic supply, greater availability, and improved fruit quality, cherry consumption in China is growing rapidly, the report states. Chinese consumers have shown strong demand for fresh cherries, with higher quality expectations, favouring large, dark-coloured, firm varieties with high sugar content. With the development of e-commerce and improvements in cold chain logistics, imported cherries have penetrated lower-tier cities and are increasingly becoming part of daily fruit consumption.
Meanwhile, China’s cherry imports continue to show steady growth, rising from 388,000 tonnes in 2023/24 to 552,500 tonnes in 2024/25, with projections indicating a further increase to 600,000 tonnes in 2025/26.
Thanks to its large supply volume and ability to supply the Chinese New Year sales window, Chile has long dominated the Chinese cherry market. The zero-tariff policy under the China-Chile Free Trade Agreement, coupled with historically strong profit margins, has led to over 90 per cent of Chile’s cherry exports being sent to China. In the 2024/25 season, Chilean cherry exports to China increased by 44 per cent year-on-year, and even higher volumes are expected in 2025/26.
