Mac Fruit Attraction China, Shanghai 22-24 November 2017

Italy has a negative import-export balance but there is room for huge growth. These are the trade relationships in fruit and vegetables between China and Italy. Cesena Fiera, along with IFEMA and Vnu Exhibitions Asia, has decided to focus on China, which is also the Partner Country of this edition of Macfrut. In fact, they jointly created Mac Fruit Attraction China, an exhibition project that is part of Horti China, to be held from 22 to 24 November 2017 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Shanghai.

China is particularly interested in Italy, as highlighted by the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Italy, Li Ruiyu, during the Macfrut presentation in Rome. Up to today, only kiwifruit can be imported in China, whose market has recently decided to open up to oranges, with apples and pears shortly to follow. This is why the increasingly intense trade relations between the two countries are now offering important opportunities for Italy’s fruit and vegetable industry. Last year, Italy exported fruit and vegetable produce worth 27 million euros, a 12.8% increase on the previous year (source: ICE). The fact that exports from EU countries to China amounted to about 50 million euros gives us a picture of Italy's key role in this market.

Moreover, analysts predict further growth margins and various signs of this are evident. In the next few years, the European domestic market is not expected to grow significantly in production or consumption. Therefore, the future of the fruit and vegetable industry is linked to its ability to develop in international markets. In addition, the lower shipping costs and reduced transit times allow for new business opportunities in new countries. And this is where China plays a leading role.

There are also signs coming from Chinese consumers, who prefer imported fruit: on the one hand, the prestige associated with the consumption of imported fruit, especially from brands from the Western world and, on the other hand, the guarantee of safety that these products generally offer.

Elena Vincenzi and Alice Camellini
International press office of Macfrut

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