Sour cherries market in Asia

Earlier Report Observations

Production of sour cherries in Asia grew consistently from 409.4 thousand tons in 2018 to 486.6 thousand tons in 2023. This increase was driven by a rising share of domestic output in Russia, which reduced import reliance, alongside expanded cultivation areas and yield gains. In 2022, Russian berry yields rose by 18% above the ten‑year average, directly lifting production. By 2023, technological advances—such as the adoption of greenhouse complexes in Russia and modern greenhouse techniques in China’s Dalian region for early cherry harvest—further boosted output capacity.

Market volume expanded from 427.1 thousand tons in 2020 to 483.3 thousand tons in 2023, even as imports fell from 9.1 thousand tons to 4.0 thousand tons over the same period. The import decline was linked to growing domestic supply in key markets like Russia and China. Exports fluctuated, reaching 12.6 thousand tons in 2020 before dropping to 7.4 thousand tons in 2023. By 2024, imports decreased further to 2.4 thousand tons while exports rebounded to 9.8 thousand tons, reflecting a continued shift toward greater self‑sufficiency and export orientation in parts of Asia.

Consumer preferences moved toward higher‑quality fresh products and processed cherry items, supported by improved logistics and cold‑chain development in China and Russia. New sorting and packaging technologies in China enhanced product competitiveness, and sustainable growing methods gained traction. Although cherry prices in Russia rose faster than inflation, demand remained firm. The expansion of cherry cultivation areas in China’s Shandong and Dalian provinces, coupled with high‑tech growing practices, underscored the market’s ongoing transformation.

Production sour cherries in Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of sour cherries, 2017-2020

World map of production of sour cherries, 2017-2020

Asia's sour cherry production has grown for the third year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 430.6 thousand tonnes, marking a modest 3.5% increase from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production rose by 9.7%, with an average annual growth rate of 3.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Asia in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports sour cherries from Asia

Exports in kind, t

The market showed significant volatility during these years. Exports reached their lowest point in 2018 and peaked in 2020, with a 4.7-fold difference between these extremes. In 2020, Asia exported 12 563 tonnes of sour cherries, a sharp increase of 242.7% compared to the previous year. The minimum volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 669 tonnes, with the largest decline of 8.4% also occurring that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Russia and Egypt were the main buyers of sour cherries from Asia, together accounting for 46.7% of total exports by volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market displayed an unstable trend throughout this period. Exports hit their lowest point in 2018 and reached a high in 2020, varying by a factor of 6.6. In 2020, Asia exported sour cherries worth 19 297 thousand US dollars, representing a steep 172.3% rise from the year before. The minimum value was 2 916 thousand US dollars in 2018, with the largest decline of 21.4% also recorded that year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Russia and Egypt stood out as the primary buyers of sour cherries from Asia, jointly making up 50.3% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports sour cherries to Asia

Imports in kind, t

Market performance exhibited noticeable fluctuations during this period. Imports peaked in 2018 and fell to their lowest point in 2019, with a 4.6-fold gap between these years. In 2020, Asia imported 9 118 tonnes of sour cherries, a sharp rise of 320.9% from the prior year. The minimum volume was 2 166 tonnes in 2019, while the maximum was 9 930 tonnes in 2018. The largest decline of 78.2% occurred in 2019.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, imports by volume were widely dispersed across countries. The United States (8.5% of imports), Australia (3.9%), and Greece (2.5%) together accounted for just 14.9% of total flows, with the remaining 85.1% spread among a broad range of other destinations.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Asia's sour cherry imports declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, the region imported approximately 35 815 thousand US dollars' worth of sour cherries, reflecting a modest 3.2% decrease from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 18.7%, equivalent to an annualized rate of 6.7%. The maximum value was recorded in 2018 at 44 927 thousand US dollars, with the largest decline of 17.6% in 2019 and the largest increase of 2.0% in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017-2020, imports by value were not concentrated in a few key markets. Australia (16.2% of imports), the United States (15.8%), and Chile (6.0%) together made up only 38.0% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Asia in value, 2017-2020