China receives first ever shipment of Iranian oranges

The first batch of fresh citrus fruit from Iran arrived in
Shanghai by air on March 17.

The consignment of 1,780 kilograms was received at Pudong
International Airport and consisted mainly of navel oranges.

The shipment was promptly cleared by airport customs
officials and the consignment was released the following day. The whole
procedure took less than 15 hours, allowing the freshness of the imported fruit
to be maintained. The citrus was subsequently distributed to the designated
venues for its retail debut in China, according to Produce Report.

Iran dominates nut and fruit production in the Middle East
and North Africa region. Walnuts, melons, citrus, kiwifruit, dates, cherries
and pomegranates are among the country’s main horticultural crops. Annual
citrus production in Iran amounts to approximately 5.5 million metric tons,
placing the country in the top 10 globally.

In 2020, Iran’s citrus exports yielded $15.2 million of
revenue, with the key markets including Azerbaijan, Armenia, the United Arab
Emirates, Qatar and Kazakhstan.

Last year provided the first ever opportunity for Iranian
fresh fruit to be exported to China. On Aug. 31, the General Administration of
Customs of China granted market access to fresh Iranian oranges, mandarins and
sweet lemons.

In 2023, another fresh fruit item from Iran, this time
apples, also gained market access, with the GACC publishing its official
announcement on Feb. 21.

According to Iranian Agriculture Minister Javad Sadatinejad,
the country expects to export approximately 100,000 metric tons of apples to
China during the initial phase. All Iranian fruits admitted to China must
comply with the phytosanitary protocols previously agreed upon by the two
countries.