(Yicai) Dec. 18 -- China welcomed this year's first shipment of Chilean cherries with price cuts exceeding 20 percent in some sales channels, driven by a bumper harvest, Yicai learned from merchants.

The initial vessel, carrying nearly 540 containers with around 14,000 tons of Chilean cherries, arrived in Guangzhou, Guangzhou Daily reported recently.

Chile anticipates producing up to 50 percent more cherries this year compared to last year, according to a fruit procurement professional. Notably, the quality has improved following last year's El Niño climate pattern.

In Guangzhou's Jiangnan wholesale fruit and vegetable market, cherry reference prices have dropped to CNY107 (USD15) per kilogram from CNY142 per kg earlier this month. During the same period last year, prices ranged between CNY134 and CNY156.

At Alibaba's Freshippo grocery chain, cherry sales have surged 90 percent month-on-month, with prices declining by 23 percent. Five-kilogram packages of jumbo-sized cherries now cost CNY199, down from CNY259, while extra jumbo varieties are priced at CNY299, reduced from CNY399.

Chile's current cherry season, extending into next year, is predicted to break records. The Chilean Fruit Exporters Association forecasts global exports will increase by 50 percent from the last harvest, reaching around 124.5 million five-kg boxes or about 620,000 tons.

Over 90 percent of cherries imported into China originated from Chile last year, according to customs data.

Editor: Emmi Laine