By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s agricultural exports are gaining further ground in the Chinese market, with tobacco shipments reaching US$860 million in the first nine months of this year while blueberries made their debut in the Asian market, signalling fresh opportunities for local producers to diversify products.
According to the lates China Customs data that the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe released, tobacco exports rose by 9.3 percent from US$786 million recorded during the corresponding period last year, underlining the continued importance of the Chinese market to Zimbabwe’s agricultural export earnings.
The embassy also highlighted the entry of Zimbabwean blueberries into China for the first time in July this year, marking a new development for the horticultural industry as exporters seek to expand beyond traditional agricultural commodities.
“Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports to China reached 860 million U.S. dollars, up 9.3 per cent,” the embassy said.
The latest developments come against the backdrop of expanding commercial relations between Harare and Beijing, with bilateral trade reaching US$5.01 billion between January and September this year, representing a 51.6 percent increase compared with the same period last year.
China is keen to see Zimbabwe maximize opportunities presented by its preferential trade arrangements, which offer qualifying African products duty-free access to the Chinese market, the embassy said.
“China supports Zimbabwe in fully leveraging the zero-tariff policy to expand its exports. Deepened economic and trade cooperation continues to deliver shared prosperity for both nations,” it said.
China extended zero-tariff treatment to 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations from May 1 this year, creating opportunities for qualifying Zimbabwean products to compete in one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
The arrangement could provide the country with an important avenue for broadening its export base, particularly in agriculture, where horticultural products such as blueberries offer potential for increased foreign currency earnings.
Zimbabwe established diplomatic relations with China at indepence in i980, and the two countries have progressively expanded cooperation across trade, investment, agriculture, infrastructure and other sectors.
New Ziana
