Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp signed a protocol in Beijing on Monday, 8 September 2026, granting South African cherry producers access to the Chinese market for the first time, opening the door to the world’s largest cherry importing nation. Aucamp signed the agreement with General Administration of Chinese Customs (GACC) Minister Sun Meijun during the 9th Sanitary and Phytosanitary Ministerial Meeting in the Chinese capital.
China imported approximately 586,900 tonnes of cherries valued at US$3.3 billion (R52.8 billion) in 2025, making it by far the largest cherry market globally. The protocol gives South African growers 0% tariff access under the Framework Agreement on Economic Partnership for Shared Development signed between the two countries. The government expects the new market to create about 600 jobs.
The deal marks the first time two market access protocols have been signed with China within a single year. A stonefruit protocol covering nectarines, plums, apricots, peaches, and clingstone peaches was signed in October 2025 under then-Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, with cherry inclusion negotiated subsequently. “This achievement is record-breaking as it is the first time that two market access protocols have been signed with China within a year,” Aucamp said, according to a government media release.
The Western Cape accounts for the majority of South Africa’s cherry output, and the province stands to benefit significantly from the new export channel. While South Africa’s cherry industry remains small by global standards, production has grown rapidly, reaching a record 3,006 tonnes in 2025, according to Hortgro CherriesZA data reported by TimesLIVE. “If we can enter the Chinese market, it will be a huge win, and will result in increased exports over time, market diversification and other opportunities for South African cherry producers,” Hortgro CherriesZA said in a statement reported by TimesLIVE in January 2026.
Aucamp also met China’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhang Zhu, on Sunday, 7 September 2026, to discuss biosecurity cooperation including Foot and Mouth Disease. He attended the South Africa-China Fruit Trade Business Forum organised by FruitSA, where he engaged representatives of Chinese fruit importers. “We truly appreciate China’s efforts to speed up our market access requests for South African agriculture products,” Aucamp said.
China has submitted a draft protocol for South African blueberry imports, and Aucamp has requested fast-tracking to finalise it before the end of 2026. There is more to come between South Africa and China now that the negotiations to grant market access for South African blueberries to China are at an advanced stage,” he said. The next stonefruit season starting in October will be the first full export campaign to China, according to Fruitnet.
What remains unclear is how quickly South African growers can scale up cherry volumes to meet Chinese demand, and whether the blueberry protocol will be finalised by Aucamp’s end-of-2026 target. Cape Flats News will check on the blueberry negotiations when the next round of SPS talks is announced.