South African avocado growers are making a bold move into the Chinese market as the first shipments from agricultural heavyweight ZZ2 arrive in Asia, backed by a robust export partnership with Core Fruit and distribution through global produce giant Mission Produce Inc.
The first containers were shipped aboard the Maersk Freeport and will be handled by Mission Produce’s long-time Chinese partner, Mr Avocado, a key player in the country’s ripening and retail distribution network.
According to JJ van der Spuy, commercial manager of Core Fruit, the move marks a strategic step for South African fruit exporters seeking to expand beyond their traditional European markets.
“Our first containers were shipped on the Maersk Freeport and are due to be distributed by Mission Produce Inc’s global distribution network and particularly its partner in China, Mr Avocado,” van der Spuy said.
ZZ2, one of South Africa’s leading agricultural companies, has made significant investments to support the expansion, including a high-tech avocado packhouse and a nursery capable of producing over 300,000 trees on clonal and seeding rootstocks.
The company, through its joint venture Selokwe Agri, has plans to develop over 1,000 hectares of avocado orchards in Limpopo, a region renowned for its premium growing conditions.
Clive Garrett, marketing executive at ZZ2, said the timing of the shipment allowed them to take advantage of a supply gap in China.
“Due to ZZ2 being very early, we took advantage of the relatively empty market in China and sent several containers to Mr Avocado,” he explained.
Garrett also noted South Africa’s competitive shipping advantage over key rival Peru, with transit times to China around a week shorter, giving South African avocados fresher access to the Asian market.
“Also, due to the fact that ZZ2 is a relatively late producer, there is very little fruit from Peru in China early in our season,” Garrett added.
Core Fruit brings longstanding experience in exporting to China, particularly with apples, pears, and citrus, having established strong trade links since Chinese markets opened to South African produce several years ago.
Mission Produce Inc and Mr Avocado have been working together since 2017 and remain the only supply chain in China to offer a single branded avocado product sourced from multiple countries.
“Mr Avocado has ripening and distribution facilities in China along with its long-standing partners in retail,” Van der Spuy noted.
Looking ahead, ZZ2 aims to deepen its presence in China depending on how initial shipments perform. With markets in Europe sometimes oversaturated—particularly when Peru reaches peak production—the opening of China, India, and Japan provides South African exporters with critical new market options.
South Africa is currently on track to harvest and pack a crop of 22 million cartons of avocados this year. Early shipments have been well-received in Europe and the UK, although exporters expect the market to ease as more South American fruit enters.