Manzhouli land port exports fresh pears to Russia

(chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2016-01-07

Manzhouli land port, the largest one in China, exported fresh pears for the first time in railway containers to Russia, a boost for the agricultural products trade between the two countries.

The Inner Mongolia autonomous region's Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau announced the news on Jan 5, saying that 135 tons of fresh pears, worth $81,200, were put into nine insulated containers and exported to Russia by rail. The bureau inspected and quarantined the pears and their packaging to facilitate customs clearance.

With cold storage train capacity becoming available in 2015, Manzhouli land port has added to its already substantial ability to export fruits and vegetables.

During the last month of 2015, the port exported 1,913 tons of fresh pears, an increase of 238 percent over the same period last year. The pears were worth $1.14 million, a 305 percent increase. Pears ranked third in terms of export volume in the port, following oranges and apples.

Crisp, juicy, and fine in taste as well as easy to store, China's fresh pears are popular in Russian markets.

A good pear harvest in 2015 resulted in lower prices, a big advantage for exporters. In addition, Chinese fruits and vegetables met shortages in Russia as that country forbade import of vegetables and fruits from Turkey and the Ukraine after Jan 1, 2016.