Chinese consumers are expected to be able to have a taste of Polish apples in the fall, after the two countries signed export protocols in Warsaw this week.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) and Polish President Andrzej Duda (right) eat apples at a ceremony in Warsaw

The protocols were signed during a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Eastern European country. Various other bilateral trade agreements were also inked during the trip.

Xi Jinping and Polish President Andrzej Duda attended a ceremony on Monday where they welcomed a freight train carrying goods from the Asian country arriving into the Polish capital.

The overland rail route that passes through Russia is expected to offer great opportunities for Polish exporters. With a travel time of around 14 days, the transport option is faster than seafreight and cheaper than airfreight.

Poland is the leading apple producer in Europe and has been investigating market access with China for some time, in a bid to relieve pressure on the sector since Russia closed its doors to European fresh produce imports.

Before the embargo was put in place in August, 2014, The Russian Federation absorbed the highest volumes of apples from Poland. Approximately 700,000 metric tons (MT) were shipped to Russia annually.

Photo: Phoenix News

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