Beijing has become the main destination for fresh fruit imports in northern China, with increased direct shipments in the past five years, according to a recent report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The report, ‘Fresh Fruit Market in North China’, has cited increased consumer demand in northern China, high inland freight costs and rising costs in shipping via Hong Kong’s grey channel to explain Beijing’s growth as an import hub.
On top of increased direct shipments to high-end retailers in the north of China, the report also highlights China’s growth in e-commerce.
“Given the limitations of fresh product logistics, consumers in North China’s second and third tier cities still have limited access to ordering fresh products online,” stated the report. “However, the potential market is large and based on industry data, online fresh product sales revenues increased nearly 41 per cent in 2013, reaching more than US$930m.”