An Iranian vendor places fruites in a market on March 15, 2023. Photo: VCG

The first batch of 1,780-kilogram oranges originated in Iran was imported to China by air via Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Chinese media outlet thepaper.cn reported on Sunday citing Shanghai Customs, as the two countries further expand bilateral trade in agricultural products sector.

In order to keep oranges fresh, Shanghai Customs has implemented series of convenient clearance procedure. All of the oranges have left the Pudong International Airport at 2 pm on Saturday, and will soon be put on shelves for Chinese consumers while ensuring biosafety and food safety. 

China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) on August 31, 2022 signed an agreement with the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture on allowing the import of Iranian oranges to China, the first fruit import agreement between the two countries. 

In addition, Iranian apples have been allowed to be imported to China according to the latest bilateral agreement signed on February 21, 2023.

Iran's agricultural output value accounts for 12 percent of its GDP. The annual output of Iranian oranges is about 5.5 million tons, among the top 10 places worldwide, according to the report. 

The trade volume between China and Iran in 2022 reached $15.8 billion, up seven percent year-on-year, [with export volume from China to Iran reached $9.44 billion,] increased by 14.3 percent year-on-year, GAC data showed. 

Global Times