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MARKETING REVIEW OF FROZEN STRAWBERRY MARKET AND STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN CHINA
Nov 9, 2010
MARKETING REVIEW OF FROZEN STRAWBERRY MARKET AND STRAWBERRY PRODUCTION IN CHINA
General Information: China's fresh strawberry production is forecast at 1.8 million metric tons (MMT) in marketing year (MY) 09/10 (January — December 2010), a 20-percent increase over MY 08/09, as a result of rapid acreageexpansion in the major producing provinces following good returns over the last three years. China's strawberry acreage is estimated at 120,000 hectares (HA) in MY 09/10, representing a 15-percent increase from 2008. Japanese varieties planted in green houses or plastic sheds are generally for fresh consumption, while U. S. and European varieties are most often planted in open fields and used forprocessing purposes. China's frozen strawberry production is forecast at 150,000 MT in MY 09/10, a five-percent increase over the revised MY 08/09 figure of 143,000 MT, in response to the expanding acreage.
China's frozen strawberry (H.S. code 081110) exports are forecast at 110,000 MT in MY 09/10, a slight decrease from the estimated 115,000 MT in MY 08/09. The European Union and Japan are themajor export markets for China's frozen strawberries. China exports a very small amount of fresh strawberries to its neighboring countries and does not allow imports of fresh strawberries. China's frozen strawberry imports are expected to remain stable at 11,500 MT in MY 09/10, the same as in MY 08/09. Chile, Morocco, Argentina, and Egypt are the major suppliers.
Production: Fresh strawberryproduction is forecast to increase 20 percent in MY09/10 China's fresh strawberry production is forecast at 1.8 MMT in MY 09/10, a 20-percent increase from the estimated 1.5 MMT in MY 08/09, thanks to the rapid acreage expanding in Liaoning, Shandong, Hebei and Sichuan provinces. Industry sources revealed that returns from strawberry planting have been very competitive in the past three years, whichhas encouraged strawberry acreage expansion in these major producing provinces. Acreage is expanding in response to good returns China's strawberry acreage is estimated at 120,000 HA in 2009, representing a 15-percent increase from 2008. Strawberries are planted in most of China's provinces, with Hebei (Mancheng), Shandong (Yantai and Weifang), Liaoning (Donggang), Anhui (Changfeng), and Jiangsu(Donghai) being the major producing provinces, accounting for over 60 percent of China's total strawberry acreage. Strawberries for fresh consumption are grown in either greenhouses or plastic sheds, and combined account for over 80 percent of total strawberry acreage. Industry sources revealed that in north China, especially Shandong and Liaoning provinces, green houses are dominant. Greenhousestrawberries are planted in September and harvested in late December. While in south China, such as Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces, plastic sheds are dominant, and are planted in October and harvested in late November. Prices of processing strawberries fluctuated significantly In China, more than 95 percent of processing strawberries are produced in open fields, at much lower costthan strawberries for fresh consumption. Industry information indicated that the prices of processing strawberries fluctuated significantly in recent years, as low as $0.04/lb, mainly dictated by the international price of frozen strawberries. Local media reported that in mid-May, 2009, fresh strawberries were priced at $0.03/lb in Weifang, Shandong Province, one of China's major strawberryproducers. During the same period in 2008, prices were $0.3/lb. Industry attributed these extremely low prices to shrinking demand from frozen strawberry processing, as a result of declining exports. Industry sources voiced concerns that this abnormal fluctuation of price might discourage China's processing strawberry production.
Japanese varieties such as Toynoka, Benihoppe, Akihime, and Tochiotome...