On March 26, as Zespri’s first biofuel-powered charter ship Kowhai carrying kiwifruit arrived at Nangang Port in Shanghai, 2025 Zespri kiwifruit season in the Chinese market was officially launched.

CHINA FRUIT brings you the first-hand coverage from Nangang Port.

The first ship, the Kowhai, set sail from New Zealand's Port of Tauranga on March 14, loaded with 1.2 million standard retail trays (approximately 4,300 metric tons) of Zespri SunGold™ Kiwifruit, along with 16 containers of Zespri RubyRed™ Kiwifruit. The charter completed its 5,185-nautical-mile (approximately over 9,600 km) voyage in less than 12 days, delivering fresh, delicious and premium-quality in-season Zespri kiwifruit to Chinese consumers.

International shipping accounts for more than 40% of the carbon emission footprint of Zespri's globally sold fruits, driving the company’s pursuit of innovative solutions like low-emission shipping to achieve decarbonization and sustainability. The Kowhai used low-carbon biofuel in this Kiwifruit voyage, reducing carbon emissions by 16% compared to traditional marine fuel. As an industry leader, Zespri has pioneered the use of biofuels in international fruit transportation, revolutionizing traditional shipping models and demonstrating the brand's determination and leadership in reducing carbon emissions throughout the “orchard to shelf” supply chain. This initiative marks a milestone in green shipping for the global fruit supply chain, providing an innovative solution for sustainable development across agricultural supply chains worldwide. The low-carbon biofuel used in this voyage was refined from waste cooking oil by a wholly-owned subsidiary of China Marine Bunker (Chimbusco). Furthermore, in adherence to its low-carbon commitment, Zespri is exclusively utilizing electric refrigerated trucks for all RubyRed™ kiwifruit distribution this season.

In 2024, Zespri scored milestone growth in the Chinese market, with its sales exceeding 1.1 billion NZD (approximately 4.5 billion CNY). While the current global economic slowdown has posed challenges to the expected growth of kiwifruit sales this year, China's consumer market potential continues to unfold with stable and positive consumption trends. Therefore, Zespri remains optimistic about the Chinese market in 2025. Building on its premium product quality, resilient supply chain, and innovative sustainability strategy, Zespri is positioned to achieve renewed growth despite market headwinds. Simultaneously, Zespri will steadfastly deliver long-term brand value, drive the healthy development of the industry, and integrate more deeply into the Chinese market. Notably, Zespri RubyRed™ kiwifruit, a plant variety protected under Plant Variety Rights (PVR), is projected to reach 1.2 million standard retail tryas in Chinese mainland this year, accounting for 40% of the global kiwifruits sold."

When discussing the first low-carbon biofuel-powered charter ship for the 2025 season, Jiang Shijie specifically acknowledged partners, "The successful implementation of this low-carbon biofuel-powered charter ship was made possible through the strong support of Zespri's international shipping partner, FCC and Chinese strategic partners, Sinotrans PFS and VX Logistics. This exploratory initiative represents significant progress for our industry and marks a solid step forward in Zespri's journey of carbon reduction. However, this is only the beginning. The journey ahead remains long, and Zespri will continue exploring, refining, and implementing more innovative solutions to advance global agricultural supply chains toward greener and more sustainable practices.

Li Renzhi, President of Sinotrans PFS, stated that "As a global leader in integrated logistics services, our successful support for the Kowhai's first voyage not only fulfills our global carbon reduction commitments but also provides robust support for Zespri's low-carbon logistics upgrade. In the future, we remain committed to building greener, more efficient and stable supply chain systems, helping our strategic partners create more value." Ms. Wu Beiwen, Chairman of VX Logistics, emphasized that "VX Logistics has always been dedicated to developing green and smart supply chain systems. We deeply recognize and prioritize the importance of sustainable development. Through close collaboration with all partners, we are confident in contributing to Zespri's carbon reduction efforts, which align perfectly with our corporate values of Innovation-Driven and Green-Guided."

Additionally, as a consistent exhibitor of CHINA FRUIT, Zespri noted that the expo remains one of its most strategic platforms for cultivating long-term growth in the Chinese market. Zespri's "Across the Oceans to Bring You Freshness" exhibition booth in last year's expo left a deep impression on the industry This year, from August 27 to 29, Zespri will reunite with everyone at CHINA FRUIT, showcasing its practices in sustainable development, and demonstrating the brand’s unwavering determination and leadership in carbon reduction throughout the "orchard-to-shelf" supply chain. During the expo, Zespri will deploy a series of marketing activations and plan to conduct live-streaming sales on site.

From the dawn at the Port of Tauranga to the morning sun at Nangang Port in Shanghai, the voyage of the Kowhai is more than a journey of fruits—it’s a rehearsal for the future. By combining traditional agriculture with bio-eco technology and aligning global trade with low-carbon principles, Zespri’s innovative practices are proving to us that, in a world of economic challenges and changes, sustainable resilience is forged through three pillars: uncompromising quality, relentless innovation, and compassionate planetary stewardship.