South Africa’s Avocado Boom Hits China

Move over guacamole—South Africa is making waves in China’s avocado market! In August 2024, the country became the third African nation (after Kenya and Tanzania) to score approval for exporting fresh avocados to the Chinese mainland. Fast-forward to October 10, and Shanghai’s Yangshan Port welcomed its first shipment: a juicy 22-ton batch of South African avocados.

But how do these numbers stack up? CGTN hit the streets of South Africa to ask locals to guess the size of the historic shipment. Spoiler: No one nailed the exact figure, but everyone agreed it’s a huge win for cross-continental trade. South African resident Hendrik Snyman told reporters, \"This is just the beginning. China’s demand for our produce, like avocados and wine, could open doors for tourism and tech partnerships too.\"

Beyond avocados, South African products like rooibos tea and citrus fruits are already trending in China. With business ties heating up, who knows what’s next? Maybe a kombi van-themed café in Shanghai?

Reference(s):

We Talk: How many avocados did South Africa export to China in 2024?

cgtn.com