From luxury to everyday fruit: Chilean cherries become more affordable in China

(ECNS) - Chilean cherry prices in China have fallen by more than 30% year-on-year at the start of 2026, as a surge in supply as well as faster and cheaper shipping reshapes what was once a premium seasonal fruit into a now more affordable staple for consumers.

In Hefei, the capital of China's Anhui Province, supermarkets say that the imported cherries from Chile are selling very well there, with some stores selling more than 100 boxes a day, and some running out of stock during holidays.

Retailers said large volumes began arriving in late November 2025, nearly a month earlier than usual, putting downward pressure on prices.

At Baida Zhougudui wholesale market, a major agricultural distribution hub in Anhui, daily cherry sales have reached about 15 metric tons. Wholesale prices for JJ-grade cherries in 2.5-kg boxes are currently between 100 and 130 yuan, down from 160to 180 yuan a year earlier, according to Wang Ping, an official with the market.

The price decline reflects both record supply from Chile and broader improvements across the global fruit supply chain, said Xia Yang, vice chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce Imports and Exports.

Data from Chile's trade office in China show that Chile's cherry output for the 2025–2026 season is expected to reach 655,000 metric tons, with more than 90 percent destined for the Chinese market.

Logistics efficiency has played a key role in the price drop. Direct "cherry express" shipping routes between Chile and China have shortened transit times to around 23 days, while sea freight costs are more than 60 percent lower than air transport, Xia Yang added. In addition, China's customs facilitation measures, including ship-side cargo pickup, have further reduced delays and handling costs.

As prices fall, consumer behavior is also shifting. Demand in China is moving away from the "pursuit of rarity" toward a greater emphasis on quality, according to Xia. In response, Chilean producers are adjusting their strategies by increasing supplies of premium-grade cherries and tailoring packaging to regional consumption preferences within China.

(By Zhang Jiahao)