INDUSTRIAL NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

On October 30, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) announced an update to China’s list of allowable imported fruits. Previously updated on May 17, 2018, the most recent announcement officially approves the import of fresh blueberries from Argentina to China.

Argentine blueberries and New Zealand Avocados were added to the list of permitted fruit imports back on January 12 of this year. At that time, these fruits were not officially exported as market access procedures had yet to be completed. Now, Argentine blueberries are finally able to enter the Chinese market.

According to the Argentinean Blueberry Committee (ABC), blueberries are not one of Argentina’s traditional crops. In fact, Argentina only started growing blueberries 20 years ago. Currently, major blueberry growing areas are located in Northwest and Northeast Argentina including the capital city, Buenos Aires. Argentina heavily encourages domestic blueberry consumption—so much so that, in 2016, domestic consumption of blueberries increased by 250%. The history of Argentina's blueberry exports also dates back to 20 years ago, when the country first began growing the crop. An impressive 95% of Argentina’s blueberry crop is exported. In 2017, Argentina's major export markets were the United States (60.91%), the United Kingdom (13.03%), the Netherlands (7.61%), and Germany (5.44%).

ABC called blueberry exports to China a very inspiring feat and emphasized the prolonged period of negotiations and preparation between the two countries. Furthermore, ABC hopes that Argentine blueberries can represent the quality of Argentina's fruit exports. Considering the blueberry season has already begun as well as the 30% import tariff on Argentina’s blueberries, Argentina is strictly observing the quality of the first blueberry shipment, testing the Chinese market with small quantities at first.

The GACC also published a list of 14 registered Argentine blueberry establishments—five in Entre Rios, five in Tucuman, two in Buenos Aires, one in Salta, and one in Catamarca.

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