South African avocados and cherries for China, Japan and Korea: what is open, what is pending
A dated market-access check, recorded trade, seasons and import checklists — so Asian importers can plan a South African programme on facts, then request comparable offers.
Prepared by the Global B2B Group project team · Published · Last reviewed · Scope: Exports from South Africa to mainland China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Access, protocols and registrations change; confirm each programme with the destination authority and your customs broker.
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Can Asian importers buy South African avocados and cherries today?
Avocados, yes for China: South Africa and China concluded a phytosanitary agreement in August 2023, the first 21 tonnes arrived in Shanghai on 8 October 2024, and the 2025 season's first batch reached Shanghai in May 2025 (SAnews). Japan's MAFF index lists a rule for Hass avocados from South Africa. Korean access is not confirmed. Cherries are different: a protocol for China was signed on 8 September 2026 and GACC set the requirements in Announcement 2026 No. 140 (dated 21 September 2026), but as of Reuters reporting on 21 October 2026 China still had to confirm South Africa had met its requirements before a first commercial shipment — treat it as pending (checked 25 October 2026). Global B2B Group is a buyer-first sourcing service: free for buyers, programmes from USD 250,000 per year or season, and our team handles supplier communication.
Market-access status by destination (checked 25 October 2026)
Status means what official or dated public sources show on the check date — not that any particular orchard, packhouse or exporter is eligible this season.
| Product → destination | Status | Evidence (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Avocados → China | Open — trade has started | Phytosanitary agreement August 2023; first 21 t arrived in Shanghai 8 October 2024; 2025 season's first batch arrived May 2025 (SAnews, 14 May 2025). WITS: 22,048 kg in 2024 and 121,701 kg in 2025 |
| Avocados → Japan | Rule published for Hass | MAFF detailed-rules index lists Hass avocados from South Africa (checked 24 October 2026). WITS: 21,459 kg in 2024; none reported for 2025 |
| Avocados → Korea | Not confirmed | No official APQA authorisation found (checked 25 October 2026): APQA's pre-clearance list names South Africa only for oranges, lemons, mangoes and grapes, and WITS reports no South African avocado exports to Korea for 2024 or 2025. Ask APQA before planning |
| Cherries → China | Pending verification | Protocol signed 8 September 2026; requirements set by GACC Announcement 2026 No. 140 (dated 21 September 2026); not yet in GACC's fresh-fruit access catalogue (updated 19 October 2026) and no registered list found; China's final confirmation still awaited before a first shipment (Reuters, 21 October 2026) |
| Cherries → Japan | Not listed | MAFF index lists cherry rules for the United States, Canada, Chile, New Zealand and Tasmania, not South Africa (checked 24 October 2026) |
| Cherries → Korea | Not confirmed | No official APQA authorisation or market-access process found (checked 25 October 2026); APQA's pre-clearance list does not include South African cherries. Ask APQA |
Where China, Japan and Korea buy avocados today
South Africa is a small supplier to Asia so far. WITS reports these 2025 avocado imports (HS 080440); figures are recorded trade, not demand forecasts or prices.
- South Africa exported 78,249 t of avocados in 2025, mostly to Europe; the 121,701 kg reported to China is a small share.
- SAnews quoted South Africa's agriculture minister crediting a local grower's early production timing, an exporter's work and a distributor for the 2025 China shipment. Global B2B Group has no relationship with those companies and does not offer their fruit.
| Importer | Total | Main reported origins |
|---|---|---|
| China | 64,679 t, ≈ US$145.5 million | Peru, Chile, Kenya, New Zealand, Tanzania |
| Japan | 54,743 t, ≈ US$148.0 million | Mexico, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, United States |
| Korea | 14,956 t, ≈ US$42.4 million | Peru, Chile, New Zealand, United States, Philippines |
Seasons: when South African fruit can fit an Asian calendar
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service reported in February 2021 that South Africa's avocado harvest normally runs from February to October, with Hass the main variety. Early-season fruit can reach Asia while other origins supply less — SAnews described a local grower's early production timing in those terms in May 2025.
For cherries, South African growers hope to supply China early in the southern-hemisphere season, before Chilean volumes; a Hortgro representative told CNBC Africa (21 October 2026) that "September, early October" would be the opportunity. That is an aim, not a confirmed window — and as of 26 October 2026 that early window has passed for this year's harvest, so treat it as next-season planning, subject to China's final confirmation and registered sites.
Import checklist by destination
Requirements change. Confirm each point for the specific product, origin, season and consignment before you contract.
| Destination | Confirm |
|---|---|
| China | Quarantine permit before the contract; original phytosanitary certificate meeting the protocol; orchard and packhouse registration on GACC's current list; carton marks (fruit name, origin, packhouse name or code); residue limits under Chinese standards |
| Japan | The MAFF detailed rule for the fruit and origin (Hass only for South African avocados); phytosanitary certificate; MHLW food import notification; residue limits under the positive list system |
| Korea | Whether the product–origin combination is permitted (ask APQA); plant-quarantine and food-import requirements — not verified in this review |
| All | Fruit maturity standard (for avocados, dry matter and test method), count or calibre, packaging, temperature records, arrival inspection and claims procedure, Incoterm and documents |
What to put in a South African avocado or cherry RFQ for Asia
- Avocados: variety (Hass or green-skin), count per carton, minimum dry matter and method, ripeness on arrival, weekly volume and season total.
- Cherries (once access is confirmed): variety, calibre in mm, firmness, stem condition, air or sea, registration numbers.
- Destination port, importer of record, required documents, Incoterm, currency and quote validity.
- Whether you accept other origins (for example Peru, Chile or Kenya for avocados) to cover weeks South Africa cannot.
What Global B2B Group does — and does not do — for South African fruit in Asia
We do
- Reviews your confidential RFQ and completes the specification with you, free for buyers
- Approaches suitable exporters on your behalf and coordinates the communication; your identity is shared only after review and with your approval
- Returns offers on the same basis, each price labelled as a supplier quote or an estimate
We do not
- Grow, pack, export, import or sell fruit, or hold stock
- Confirm market access, registrations, availability, prices or delivery dates before authorities and suppliers have done so
- Claim any relationship with growers or exporters named in public reporting
Put these in your request
- Product, variety and maturity or calibre standard
- Destination country and port, importer of record
- Weekly volume, season total and arrival window
- Packaging, labelling and documents
- Incoterm, currency and quote validity
- Whether other origins are acceptable
Our team turns these points into one reviewed request and approaches suitable suppliers on your behalf. Buyers pay nothing; sourcing programmes start from USD 250,000 per year or season, and every requirement is confirmed per shipment rather than assumed.
Tools for this request
Request a South African avocado or cherry programme for Asia
For importers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers, food-service buyers and processors. Buyer RFQs are free. The USD 250,000 minimum applies to the total annual or seasonal programme value you declare — not to each shipment. Smaller programmes are kept on file but do not enter supplier outreach.
Fields marked * are required. Leave anything you don't know blank — it is recorded as "unknown", not guessed. We do not list or promise stock; every offer is sourced for your request. Availability, origin, certificates, prices and lead times are confirmed only after verification for your request; the producer or supplier remains responsible for the product and its documents.
How we evaluate fit and compare offers
Selling produce rather than buying? Use the producer and exporter form
Frequently asked questions
Can South African avocados be imported into China?
Yes. South Africa and China concluded a phytosanitary agreement in August 2023; the first 21 tonnes arrived in Shanghai on 8 October 2024, and the 2025 season's first batch arrived in May 2025. Each orchard, packhouse and consignment must still meet the requirements.
Are South African cherries approved for China?
Not yet confirmed. A protocol was signed on 8 September 2026 and GACC set the requirements in Announcement 2026 No. 140, dated 21 September 2026, but Reuters reported on 21 October 2026 that China still had to confirm South Africa had met them before a first shipment. Status pending verification (checked 25 October 2026).
Can Japan import South African avocados and cherries?
MAFF's index lists a rule for Hass avocados from South Africa; it does not list South African cherries (checked 24 October 2026). Ask the Plant Protection Station before planning.
What about Korea?
Not confirmed. We found no official authorisation for South African avocados or cherries in Korea (checked 25 October 2026): the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency's (APQA) pre-clearance list names South Africa only for oranges, lemons, mangoes and grapes, and WITS reports no South African avocado exports to Korea in 2024 or 2025. Ask APQA whether the product–origin combination is permitted before planning.
Is there a fee or minimum?
Buyers pay nothing. Assisted sourcing applies to programmes of USD 250,000 or more per year or season, not per shipment; smaller requests are kept on file without supplier outreach.
Sources
- SAnews (South African Government News Agency) — First shipment of South African avocados arrive in China (14 May 2025) — checked 25 October 2026
- South African Government — protocol opening China to South African cherries signed (8 September 2026) — checked 25 October 2026
- Produce Report (trade press) — China releases phytosanitary rules for fresh South African cherries (28 September 2026) — checked 25 October 2026
- GACC Announcement 2026 No. 140 — phytosanitary requirements for imported fresh South African cherries (dated 21 September 2026) — checked 25 October 2026
- GACC Department of Animal and Plant Quarantine — fresh-fruit access catalogue (page updated 19 October 2026) — checked 25 October 2026
- APQA (Korea Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency) — pre-clearance inspection in exporting countries (checked 25 October 2026) — checked 25 October 2026
- CNBC Africa — South African cherries target China (21 October 2026): first shipment awaits China's confirmation — checked 25 October 2026
- MAFF Plant Protection Station — index of detailed plant-quarantine rules (checked 24 October 2026) — checked 25 October 2026
- USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, GAIN — South African avocado plantings report (24 February 2021): harvest normally February to October — checked 25 October 2026
- GACC — Measures for the Inspection, Quarantine and Supervision of Imported Fruit (进境水果检验检疫监督管理办法), gov.cn — checked 25 October 2026
- WITS (UN Comtrade) — South Africa avocado exports (HS 080440) to China, 2024 — checked 25 October 2026
- WITS — South Africa avocado exports to China, 2025 — checked 25 October 2026
- WITS — South Africa avocado exports to Japan, 2024 — checked 25 October 2026
- WITS — South Africa avocado exports to Korea, 2025 — checked 25 October 2026
- WITS — China avocado imports by partner, 2025 — checked 25 October 2026
- WITS — Japan avocado imports by partner, 2025 — checked 25 October 2026
- WITS — Korea avocado imports by partner, 2025 — checked 25 October 2026
This guide summarises official sources for planning a sourcing request. It is not legal or customs advice; rules change and depend on the product, HS code, origin, destination and date — confirm them with the authority or your customs broker before you ship.