18.7 tons of pomelos were exported to New Zealand, marking the first time domestic pomelos have been exported to the Southern Hemisphere market.

Recently, a batch of 18.7 tons of Pinghe honey pomelo passed inspection and quarantine by the Zhangzhou Customs under the Xiamen Customs and was exported to New Zealand. This marks the first time China has exported fresh pomelos to New Zealand, and it is also the first time Chinese pomelos have been exported to a Southern Hemisphere country market.

According to Zhou Xiaolan, general manager of Zhangzhou Youquanfa Fruit and Vegetable Co., Ltd., the price of honey pomelo sold to New Zealand is about 50% higher than that of traditional export markets. As the honey pomelo export season has just begun, the company has promptly delivered the first batch of honey pomelo orders to New Zealand.

Pinghe honey pomelo is a specialty of Pinghe County, Fujian Province, known for its thin skin, high juice content, tender flesh, and sweet taste, with a cultivation history of over 500 years. Pinghe honey pomelo has been exported for over 20 years, with destinations spanning over 50 countries and regions including the European Union, North America, and the Middle East. Now, Pinghe County has become the largest base for pomelo production and export in China, with an annual export volume of approximately 200,000 tons.

In September of last year, the Xiamen Customs fully assisted the General Administration of Customs in conducting a remote docking with the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries regarding the export of honey pomelo, and successfully invited a New Zealand inspection team to conduct an on-site inspection of the registered honey pomelo orchards and packaging factories in Pinghe County in October. At the end of July, the General Administration of Customs issued a notice on the phytosanitary requirements for the export of fresh Chinese pomelos to New Zealand, officially opening the New Zealand market to Chinese pomelos.

Image source: Xiamen Daily 2025 International Fruit and Vegetable Report. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, please contact the International Fruit and Vegetable Report and credit the source.