John Steenhuisen, the minister of agriculture, and Wu Peng, the Chinese ambassador. (Photo: X)
John Steenhuisen, the Minister of Agriculture, welcomed the successful amendment to the cold treatment requirements that regulate the export of South African citrus to China.
According to Steenhuisen, the move is “a big leap forward in expanding trade opportunities and deepening an already strong partnership”, which will secure South Africa’s position as the largest exporter of citrus to China.
The new treatment options are expected to improve export efficiency, lower costs for growers and exporters and ensure even higher quality fruit reaches Chinese consumers. This will help South African citrus to further develop its presence in a “dynamic and increasingly important market”.
China remains one of South Africa’s most important agricultural trading partners. In 2025, citrus exports to China and Hong Kong stood at around 11.5 million cartons – around 6% of the country’s total citrus exports.
The latest development builds on other trade gains, including the recent opening of the Chinese market for South African stone fruits such as apricots, peaches, nectarines, plums and prunes.
John Steenhuisen, leader of the DA. (Photo: DA/X)
“South Africa places great value on its relationship with China, which continues to create significant opportunities across our agricultural sector,” said Steenhuisen.
“These agreements are the result of trust, respect and continued cooperation, and help to open doors for our producers at a time when diversification has never been more important.”
Steenhuisen says the agreement promotes more convenient negotiations on export protocols, faster resolution of issues and greater access for South African products to the Chinese market.
Meanwhile, the citrus industry remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s agricultural performance. In 2025, Southern Africa exported around 204 million cartons of citrus, of which around 193 million cartons came from South Africa. Export revenue crossed the $2 billion mark for the first time and is estimated at around $2.47 billion.
The sector supports an estimated 140,000 direct jobs on farms and in warehouses, with thousands more in logistics, export services and international distribution.
“This is the kind of progress we want to replicate across the sector – strong partnerships, growing markets and real opportunities flowing back to farmers and rural communities,” said Steenhuisen.