In Fengjie County's China Three Gorges Citrus Trading Center, export company staff are inspecting the packed navel oranges. (Photo/Chongqing Daily)
Chongqing - China's southwest metropolis reported a strong start to agricultural exports in 2026, with locally grown citrus fruits entering new overseas markets like India and Singapore, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
On January 12, two refrigerated trucks carrying 58 tonnes of citrus departed from an orchard in Ganning Town, Wanzhou District, marking the first shipment of Wanzhou citrus to India. An additional 600 tonnes are scheduled for export in batches in the coming weeks.
Export momentum has also been seen in Kaizhou District. Recently, a batch of fresh citrus was shipped directly from Changsha Town to Singapore via port transport, marking the district’s first independently operated citrus export. Local officials said the move has opened new income channels for farmers. This year, Kaizhou has exported around 100 tonnes of citrus to Singapore and Russia.
In Fengjie County, citrus exports have accelerated during the peak season. Since January, 46 containers of Fengjie navel oranges — totaling 1,150 tonnes — have been shipped overseas. To ensure quality during long-distance transportation, exporters have adopted stricter packaging standards, including secondary trimming of fruit stems and shipment within 24 hours after harvest to preserve freshness and taste.
Wanzhou, Kaizhou, and Fengjie in Chongqing are ideal regions for citrus fruit production and export due to their favorable climate, fertile soil, and strategic location. These areas benefit from a subtropical climate with abundant sunshine and rainfall, providing optimal growing conditions for high-quality citrus fruits.
Additionally, their proximity to major transportation hubs, including the Yangtze River, allows for efficient distribution and export to international markets.
Citrus is Chongqing’s largest fruit industry, with plantation areas totaling about 2500 square kilometers and annual output exceeding 4.4 million tonnes, supporting income growth for more than three million farmers.
An official of the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Agriculture and Rural Affairs stated that the city has identified export expansion as a key strategy to stabilize prices and broaden sales channels. Since 2024, Chongqing has prioritized citrus exports as part of its efforts to deepen local agricultural integration into global markets.
The city plans to expand export-oriented citrus production bases, strengthen certification and customs services, promote green cultivation technologies, and support more high-quality citrus products in accessing international markets, further enlarging its network of overseas trading partners.
(Zhang Xinyue, an intern, also contributed to this report.)