April 2025 — Cape Town and Pretoria, South Africa
SAMAC’s participation at the 18th Fruit and Nut Trade Show in China reinforced South Africa’s position as a leading supplier of premium macadamias. The visit resulted in strengthened ties with key Chinese stakeholders, widespread recognition of South Africa’s product quality, and strong support for lobbying efforts toward tariff reduction.
Event: Food Exhibition for Nuts and Dried Fruits & Fair for Procurement Supply Fruit and Nut Trade Show
Date: 15-19 April 2025
Location: Hefei, Anhui Province, China
Attendance: ±100,000 participants
Exhibitors: > 2 500
The 18th Fruit and Nut Trade Show, hosted by the Specialized Committee for Nuts and Dried Fruits of the China National Food Industry Association (CNA), brought together global stakeholders from the dried fruit and nut sectors, including importers, wholesalers, and consumers. This event serves as a pivotal platform for fostering international trade relationships.
South Africa Positioned as a Key Macadamia Supplier
SAMAC participated as a panelist in the Macadamia Roundtable to discuss global production growth, evolving Chinese consumer trends, the role of innovation and quality in driving demand, and the potential impact of U.S. tariffs on the industry.
Strategic Engagements with CNA to Strengthen Trade Relations
Ms. Weng, Executive Vice Chairman of the CNA, reaffirmed China’s growing demand for macadamias and acknowledged the limitations of their domestic supply. She emphasised that South African imports are not seen as competition but rather as a valuable supplement to China’s market needs. She also expressed a willingness to support lobbying efforts for tariff reductions, citing South Africa’s consistently high-quality produce.
Strategic Engagement with Yunnan Macadamia Leadership
SAMAC held a meeting with Ms. Chen Yuxiu, General Manager of Yunnan Macadamia Industry Development and Chair of the Yunnan Macadamia Society, who also serves as Deputy Chair of the CNA. Ms. Chen, whose products are marketed under the Mums Macadamia brand, emphasized the importance of supplementing her domestic supply with high-quality macadamias from South Africa. She also noted the increasing popularity of low-GI foods in China, a growing health trend for which macadamias are particularly well-suited.
Left: Tray made from macadamia shells. Right: Mums Macadamia’s luxury gift products incorporating
rare mushrooms for unique flavour profiles.
Several other engagements with stakeholders, included Zhejiang Lin’an Agricultural Technology, Hornbill, Pure&Well, and Jinyi, all of which yielded positive feedback and favorable sentiments toward South African macadamias.
