With only days to go before China’s zero-tariff policy for 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to Beijing comes into effect on May 1, the measure is expected to strengthen trade relations and open new opportunities for Zimbabwean blueberry exporters.
The Horticultural Development Council (HDC), which represents the country’s horticultural exporters, said in a statement that it has led efforts to establish trade protocols with China, particularly for high-potential export products such as blueberries.
In September 2025, Zimbabwe signed an agreement allowing, for the first time, the export of fresh blueberries to China—an important boost for production in the southern African country.
Data from ZimTrade indicate that the Chinese market offers significant opportunities for local exporters. In this context, the HDC has committed to supporting growers in meeting the required phytosanitary standards, including traceability and pest management.
“We expect the government to accelerate pending regulatory processes so that these protocols can be fully implemented and the opportunities in the Chinese market can be maximized,” the organization stated.
Production challenges
Desde el sector productivo, Willard Zireva, productor de arándanos en la provincia de Mashonaland West, valoró la política de arancel cero como una herramienta clave para potenciar las exportaciones.
Zireva subrayó a medios locales la necesidad de aumentar la superficie cultivada para posicionar a Zimbabue como un actor relevante en la industria global, destacando el rol estratégico que debe asumir el gobierno para facilitar esta expansión.
China: increased supply and price pressure
While new trade opportunities are opening up, the Chinese market is facing increasing pressure due to rising domestic production.
In recent weeks, blueberry prices have dropped significantly. Since March, retail prices have nearly halved, driven by a higher volume of fruit available in the market.
This trend is explained by the rapid expansion of the sector in China, where production has grown from 347,000 tons in 2020 to დაახლოებით 810,000 tons in 2025. Regions such as Yunnan account for around 30% of national production, according to China Daily.
The development of substrate-based cultivation and the expansion of greenhouse production have made it possible to bring harvests forward and increase yields, boosting supply during key months such as March and April.
Despite this growth, the sector faces structural challenges, including a strong dependence on imported varieties and long breeding cycles, which can take between eight and ten years.
Research institutions and companies are advancing in the development of proprietary varieties, although many are still in early stages. Blueberry breeding programs can take between eight and ten years due to the crop’s complexity. “Traits such as sweetness, acidity, and aroma depend on multiple genes and are strongly influenced by the environment, which makes selection difficult,” explained Gao Dengtao from the Zhengzhou Fruit Research Institute.
