The first shipment of fresh citrus from Iran, weighing 1,780 kilograms, arrived in Shanghai by air on March 17, and was quickly cleared by customs, allowing maintenance of the fruit's freshness. Iran is a major producer of nuts and fruits in the Middle East and North Africa, and China has recently granted market access to fresh Iranian sweet oranges, mandarins, lemons, and apples. The country expects to export approximately 100,000 metric tons of apples to China in the initial phase, with all fruits subject to agreed phytosanitary protocols.