On October 10th, the Shanghai Yangshan Customs announced a significant achievement in agricultural trade that caught the attention of reporter Jiang Yu. On October 8th, Shanghai Yangshan Port proudly welcomed China’s very first shipment of imported avocados from South Africa. After a thorough inspection by customs officials that morning, a total of 22 tons of avocados were successfully cleared for entry into the port.
This landmark arrival wasn’t just another shipment; it marked a crucial moment for South African exports to China, as customs officials conducted on-site evaluations of the avocados. In August, the General Administration of Customs released a list of South African avocado suppliers that met the necessary Chinese standards, making South Africa the third African country — after Kenya and Tanzania — to gain access for fresh avocado exports to China.
With the upcoming 2024 China-Africa Cooperation Forum set to take place in Beijing, several cooperation agreements have already been signed regarding agricultural imports from various African nations. Notably, this year alone, China has established 16 protocols for agricultural imports with 14 African countries. The trade relationship between China and Africa continues to strengthen, with imports of African agricultural products soaring to 28.47 billion yuan from January to August 2023, reflecting a 4.8% increase year-over-year.
Shanghai is emerging as a vital hub for importing African agricultural products. In the first eight months of 2023, the total value of African agricultural imports through Shanghai Port reached 6.12 billion yuan, marking a remarkable 15.5% increase.
Sha Qian, deputy director of the inspection section at Yangshan Customs, shared insights on the newly established “green channel” for African agricultural imports, designed to streamline customs processes. “This initiative prioritizes inspection and clearance procedures to facilitate smoother entry for these products,” Sha explained.
The customs team was diligent in adhering to all protocols and operational guidelines, carefully reviewing the phytosanitary certificates for the avocados. They ensured the accuracy of orchard and packaging facility numbers and conducted thorough on-site inspections, including sampling for laboratory testing against potential quarantine pests, such as the Mediterranean fruit fly and avocado sunblotch virus. This rigorous approach is essential in safeguarding against the introduction of harmful pests into the country.
