HARARE, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- China's zero-tariff policy for African products is expected to create new opportunities for horticultural products to access one of the world's largest consumer markets, Zimbabwean exporters have said.
Analyst Tungamirai Eric Mupona said that Zimbabwe is implementing its National Development Strategy 2, which prioritizes trade and investment facilitation as key drivers of structural transformation.
"Against this backdrop, Zimbabwe is putting in place measures to diversify its export portfolio," Mupona said, adding that the policy opens up significant opportunities for blueberries, citrus fruits, and avocados.
Zimbabwe and China signed the blueberry phytosanitary agreement in September last year, adding to previous protocols on sweet citrus and avocado exports signed in 2022 and 2024, respectively.
On May 1, China fully implemented a zero-tariff treatment for 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations, including Zimbabwe.
With China's growing demand for high-quality agricultural products, Mupona noted that Zimbabwean produce under the zero-tariff treatment has strong potential to capture a market share.
According to ZimTrade, the national trade promotion body, China was one of Zimbabwe's largest trading partners in 2025, with bilateral trade reaching a record 4.39 billion U.S. dollars, up 14.7 percent year on year.
ZimTrade noted that Zimbabwe has completed all requirements for duty-free access, urging exporters to obtain certificates of origin and comply with sanitary, customs, and logistics standards.
Blueberry farmers have already begun ramping up production. The Horticultural Development Council (HDC) said Zimbabwe's early-season window gives local growers a unique competitive edge in global markets.
In 2025, Zimbabwe exported approximately 9,500 tonnes of blueberries from 650 hectares. For 2026, planted hectarage is expected to reach 850 hectares, with export volumes projected at 12,000 tonnes, according to the HDC.
Willard Zireva, a blueberry farmer from Mashonaland West Province, expressed optimism that targeted government incentives will further encourage private sector investment and help growers scale up production.
Avocado farmer Muenzaniso Chiranduri from Manicaland Province said that Chinese investment and partnerships could help local growers overcome financing and technology challenges, as slow-maturing fruit crops require long-term capital.
"Technology transfer in areas such as irrigation, cold-chain facilities and packaging could also help farmers improve productivity and meet the high standards required by China," Chiranduri added.
