Turkish cherry exporters await China market reopening after technical visit

Chinese inspectors assess Turkish supply chain

Turkish fresh fruit exporters have become more optimistic that China will reopen its market to Turkish cherries after a technical delegation completed inspections in Turkey. China, the world’s largest cherry importer, has not purchased Turkish cherries since the pandemic, a suspension that has lasted about five years, according to Ekonomi Gazetesi.

Technical specialists from China’s General Administration of Customs visited Turkey from 22-28 June. The delegation inspected cherry orchards, packing facilities, cold-treatment operations and fumigation centres. Turkish industry representatives also presented the traceability and food-safety systems covering the fruit’s journey from orchard to consumer.

Cengiz Balık, chairman of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, said exporters expect Chinese authorities to decide whether imports can resume after reviewing the delegation’s report. No timetable for that decision or potential reopening has been announced.

A large market after a difficult harvest

China imports about 600,000 tonnes of cherries a year, making it the sector’s largest destination market globally. Reopening would give Turkish suppliers access to a major source of demand as they seek to rebuild exports following a severe production shock.

Turkey produces approximately 700,000 tonnes of cherries annually and is the world’s largest producer, but it typically exports only about 10% of that volume. Turkish cherry exports reached 67,000 tonnes in 2024 before falling to 6,000 tonnes last year after a damaging frost, Ekonomi Gazetesi reported. The decline underscores the importance of both crop recovery and a broader range of destination markets.

For Chinese importers, renewed access could add another large producing country to a supply base serving substantial annual demand. For Turkish growers and packing companies, however, market access would depend on meeting the traceability, food-safety, cold-treatment and fumigation requirements examined by the Chinese delegation.

Exporters widen their market portfolio

The Aegean association has been pursuing market diversification through trade delegations, exhibitions and promotional programmes. It organised trade missions to the United Kingdom, Norway and Canada under its UR-GE project and promoted Turkish products in the United States through the Turkish Tastes Turquality programme. Activities continued through 2025 and the first quarter of 2026.

The association ships more than 100 products to international markets, ranging from citrus fruit, figs and grapes to tomato paste and pickles. Balık said its exports rose from $559 million in the first six months of last year to $572 million in the same period of 2026. Cherries, tomatoes, mandarins and peaches were its leading export products.

East Asia is now the next stage of that diversification effort. The association plans a sectoral trade delegation to Japan and South Korea from 20-29 November 2026. While those initiatives may widen commercial contacts, China’s customs assessment remains the immediate issue for cherry exporters because of the country’s import scale.

Decision rests on technical report

The June inspection indicates that the reopening process has moved into a technical review, but it does not guarantee approval. Chinese authorities will base their next step on the visiting specialists’ report, according to Balık.

A positive decision could restore a trade route closed for about five years and give Turkish exporters another outlet for future harvests. Until approval is issued, companies must continue relying on existing destinations while preparing orchards, packing lines and treatment facilities for the standards required by China.