South African peaches, plums, and prunes are expected to be shipped to China by the end of the year, supplying the Spring Festival market.

Last week, South African Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen stated at a Cape Town exporters' conference that this is part of a continued strategy to diversify the agricultural export market. He had just finished a visit to China, bringing back an agreement for the export of stone fruits to China. It is expected that during the G20 Agricultural Ministers' meeting in September, China and South Africa will sign the final agreement. As early as the end of this year, peaches, plums, prunes, nectarines, and apricots grown in South Africa will be exported to China.

South African peaches and nectarines (mainly yellow-fleshed nectarines) have an annual production of approximately 182,000 tons, and plums have an annual production of approximately 93,000 tons. Currently, South African stone fruits are mainly exported to the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. Due to South Africa's location in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are opposite to those of China. South African stone fruit exports last from October to March and April of the following year, which coincides with the domestic winter and spring seasons, and traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival and New Year's Day, allowing for off-season supply to meet Chinese market demand.

Steenhuisen addressed exporters, stating that the United States' decision to impose a 30% tariff on various South African products starting August 1 will severely impact South Africa's economy. Although South Africa has been committed to achieving diversification of its agricultural export markets, establishing new trade relationships will still take many years.

Given the escalating trade tensions between South Africa and countries such as the United States and the European Union—long-standing disputes over citrus fruits and black spot disease continue to pose non-tariff barriers—South Africa is increasingly looking to Asia and Africa for new opportunities. South Africa has invested significant effort in developing new markets, such as selling apples to Thailand, grapes to the Philippines, and red meat to the Gulf region.