Pakistan is stepping up efforts to expand its Kinnow exports to China as the country’s horticulture sector seeks stronger access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.

The Pakistan Horticulture Development & Export Company (PHDEC) facilitated a business-to-business meeting between leading Pakistani citrus exporters and Freshippo, an Alibaba-affiliated grocery retail chain operating more than 1,000 outlets across China.

The meeting focused on exploring new opportunities for supplying fresh Pakistani Kinnow directly to the Chinese retail market, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday.

Discussions centred on key requirements for international buyers, including product quality, consistency, reliable supply, competitive pricing and efficient logistics.

Pakistan produces approximately 2.4 million tonnes of citrus annually, with Kinnow representing a major share of the country’s citrus production and exports.

During the meeting, Pakistani exporters highlighted their sourcing networks, grading and packing facilities, cold-chain infrastructure and experience in international markets.

Freshippo described the engagement as highly productive and agreed to hold a follow-up meeting in November 2026.

The next round of discussions is expected to finalize quality specifications, supply volumes, pricing arrangements and logistics ahead of the export season, which is scheduled to begin on December 1, 2026.

The development comes as Pakistan seeks to diversify and strengthen its horticultural export destinations by establishing direct relationships with major international retailers.

Through direct engagement with global buyers, PHDEC aims to create market-led export opportunities for Pakistani horticultural products and strengthen links between local growers and exporters and international retail markets.

The proposed expansion into China’s retail sector could provide Pakistani Kinnow exporters with a broader consumer base while encouraging improvements in quality standards, supply-chain efficiency and post-harvest handling.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China