ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has exported its first shipment of fresh cherries to China using a reefer container, with plans to send a total of 260 tonnes by the end of the month.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) announced that the first cargo was six tonnes, followed by an additional 12 tonnes.
The country’s success in exporting the fruit is the result of the phytosanitary agreement that China and Pakistan inked in 2022, granting Islamabad access to the Chinese market for fresh cherries.
The majority of China’s yearly demand for cherries—roughly 350,000 tonnes worth at $3 billion—comes from Chile.
Gilgit-Baltistan are produced over 5,000 tonnes of cherries annually. Local marketplaces are mostly offered these cherries at lower prices. The treaty with China has made growers able to supply cherries to the Chinese market.
Big news! The first consignment of fresh Pakistani cherries was dispatched to China on June 5th! Due to the Phyto Sanitary Agreement and efforts by TDAP, over 100 orchards are now GACC registered and opens up $3B Chinese market. #PakistanCherries #TDAP @PakinChina_ pic.twitter.com/HWzUbCcZZt
— Trade Development Authority Of Pakistan (TDAP) (@official_tdap) June 6, 2024
The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) has also been involved in enhancing the cherry productions by training farmers on producing popular kinds such as French and black cherries.
As a result of these initiatives, Rahim Abad now has over 100 registered cherry orchards as well as a cold storage and packing facility with the General Administration of Chinese Customs (GACC).
The approval of these orchards and processing facilities has paved the way for the export of fresh cherries to China. The National Logistic Cell (NLC) provided necessary reefer containers, while the Export Development Fund (EDF) covered the logistical costs.
TDAP Chief Executive Zubair Motiwala said that growers stand to benefit significantly from cherry exports, with efforts underway to maximize their gains in the vast Chinese market. He highlighted that the cherry protocol was signed in November 2022, and within a year, over 100 cherry orchards have been registered with GACC, demonstrating significant progress in capacity-building among growers.
PHDEC CEO Athar Hussain Khokhar expressed hope that by producing the requisite cherry varieties, Pakistan could capture a substantial portion of the $3 billion Chinese cherry market.
He underscored the competitive advantage of proximity and growing demand in the Chinese market for cherries from the Gilgit-Baltistan region.
