Imported fruits popular presents
28/1/2006 9:36
Fruit is a traditional lunar New Year's gift, and imported fruit is
increasingly popular on holidays and year-around. Despite higher prices than
domestic fruit, sales of foreign fruit are especially brisk before the Spring
Festival, China's most important holiday that begins tomorrow. The nation's
biggest market and distribution point is in vast refrigerated warehouses in Xin
Fa Di Market in southern Beijing. The fruit includes apples from America,
cherries from Chile, avocado from Vietnam, kiwi fruit from New Zealand, oranges
from Australia, bananas from the Philippines, and wax apples from Taiwan
Province - from about 20 countries and regions. China imported over 1 million
tons of fruit valued at US$590 million in the first 11 months of 2005, up 2.7
percent and 8.9 percent year on year, respectively. The market usually sells
between 1 million and 2 million kilograms of fruit a day, said Zhao Yiqun,
manager of the fruit section. The figure can reach 3 million kilograms a day
during holidays, and 70 to 80 percent is imported fruit, he
said. Ninety-eight percent of imported fruit wholesalers in Beijing do
business at the market, said Zhao. Dealers from Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner
Mongolia go there to buy in bulk and then resell to north China markets. To
guarantee freshness, business usually starts at 1am and ends at 7am, with the
peak period around 3am. In the 1990s, imported fruit cost about twice as much
as domestic fruit. In June 1996, Washington Red Delicious apples averaged
US$1.44-US$3.2 per kilogram, while top-grade domestically grown Fuji apples were
priced at only US$1.2-$2.4 per kilogram. But prices for foreign fruit plunged
after China reduced tariffs in line with its commitments made on joining the
World Trade Organization in 2001. China's recent "zero tariffs" policy for
fruit from neighboring countries and regions made it possible for ordinary
people buy fruit from overseas. Longan from Thailand used to cost 15 yuan
(US$1.9) per kilogram, and now averages 6 yuan; wax apples from Taiwan once
topped 120 yuan per kilogram, now the price is about 20 yuan, Zhao
said. Selling imported fruit is more profitable than selling domestic
fruit. One insider said many imported fruits taste better as well. "And
higher prices make them a good choice as gifts during
holidays." (Xinhua)
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