The U.S. cherry export season has ended, with exports to China decreasing by 35%.

Published 2025년 9월 9일

Tridge summary

Official data has not yet been released, but industry estimates indicate a 35% drop in sales compared to last year. The Northwest Cherry Growers Association (NWCG) reports that the 2025 crop yield is approximately 15% higher than the 2024 yield. The estimated direct export volume to China is 8,200 tons, a 35% decrease from the previous year and 38% below the five-year average of 8,480 tons. Northwest cherries have maintained a significant market share, but due to falling prices, increased competition, and rising logistics costs, profit margins have narrowed. The 2025 crop season highlights the necessity of a diversified market strategy and demonstrates that demand for American Northwest cherries among high-end fruit consumers in China remains stable.

Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai are the three major import cities, and this crop season has relied more on air transport than ever before. Traditionally, air transport dominates in the early part of the season, while sea transport is mainly used for varieties available after August. This year, as China and the United States continue to work towards a new trade agreement, some southern Chinese buyers have continued to choose air transport to maintain flexibility and better match daily demand at the retail end. Southern Chinese importers have newly opened direct flights to Guangzhou and Shenzhen from the United States, but Shanghai, due to a reduction in the number of cargo flights by some traditional airlines carrying cherries, mainly relies on passenger aircraft cargo holds (Los Angeles-Shanghai Pudong).

This year, American cherries face competition from domestic lychees, domestic cherries, and Canadian cherries. China's lychee harvest has been abundant and continues until mid-July, creating competition with American cherries. The quality and yield of cherries grown in northern China have improved year by year, and their prices are more competitive. Greenhouse cultivation techniques have extended the market period for domestic cherries from February to early July, and the yield is expected to continue to increase in the future. Although Canadian cherry production is lower than that of the United States, this year it has been exported mainly by air, in small quantities but with stable quality, creating competition with American cherries.

From late July to mid-August, a large volume of American cherries arrived. Combined with extreme high temperatures and temporary closures of wholesale markets due to weather, cherry quality issues emerged (such as off-odors, rot, and damage), leading some retail channels to reduce prices and promote sales to accelerate circulation.

From the consumer perspective, high-end Chinese consumers prefer high-quality varieties such as Chelan, Skeena, Santina, Black Pearl, and Regina. Sales channels are mainly concentrated on e-commerce platforms like JD.com, Tmall, and Douyin, high-end retail stores such as Ole, Sam's Club, City Super, BLT, and Costco, as well as chain fruit retailers like Baiguoyuan and Lüye.

Cherry importers believe that the main challenges of this crop season focus on profitability and quality. Traders and logistics suppliers emphasize that tariffs have limited the competitiveness of American cherries and reduced profits on bulk goods. Low-price promotions by some retailers are often associated with quality issues, and varieties such as Lapins and Sweetheart are not favored by consumers.

Meanwhile, American exporters also mentioned some challenges they faced this year, including the need to improve quality stability, optimize logistics, and continue to drive demand in markets outside mainland China.

Original content

Official data has not yet been released, but industry estimates suggest a 35% drop in sales compared to last year. The Northwest Cherry Growers Association (NWCG) reports that the 2025 crop yield is about 15% higher than the 2024 yield. Direct exports to China are estimated at 8,200 tons, a 35% decrease from the previous year and 38% below the five-year average of 8,480 tons. Northwest cherries have maintained a significant market share, but due to falling prices, increased competition, and rising logistics costs, profit margins have narrowed. The 2025 crop season highlights the need for a diversified market strategy and shows that demand for Northwest American cherries among high-end fruit consumers in China remains stable. Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Shanghai are the three main import cities, and this crop season has relied more on air transport than ever before. Traditionally, air transport dominates in the early part of the season, while sea transport is mainly used for varieties ...
Source: Foodmate

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