A cargo vessel loaded with Zespri kiwi fruit arrives at Damaiyu port in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province on May 5. [Photo/taizhou.com.cn]

Damaiyu port in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province is expected to emerge as a new logistic hub in China for imported fruit.

Pan Longzhe, a local official, was recently quoted by Taizhou.com.cn saying that the port has reached an initial agreement with Sinotrans PFS Logistics (Shanghai) Co Ltd to expand bilateral cooperation in fruit imports.

The cooperation expansion comes after the successful launch of the shipping route for Zespri kiwi fruit at the port in April, according to Hong Di, vice president of Sinotrans PFS Logistics (Shanghai) Co Ltd.

A bulk cargo ship loaded with 5,622 metric tons of Zespri kiwi fruit from New Zealand arrived at Damaiyu port on April 10, making Damaiyu the second entry port in China following Shanghai for New Zealand kiwi fruit.

The route is expected to transport 50,000 tons of kiwi fruit worth over 1 billion yuan ($153.85 million) from the island country to Taizhou this year. The transport volume is expected to grow 10 percent or more in 2023.

Zespri commands an 80 percent share of the kiwi furit market in China, where a quarter of the company's kiwi fruit is exported.

Damaiyu port was chosen primarily because of its advantageous location and the high demand for kiwi fruit in Zhejiang, according to Hong.

"Zhejiang is one of the major consumer markets for Zespri kiwi fruit in China. Damaiyu port has prominent locational advantages, so it can better promote Zespri's sales in Zhejiang, Fujian and other surrounding cities," he said.

Yang Zhengmin, head of the Taizhou Municipal Bureau of Commerce, pointed out that the opening of the kiwi fruit shipping route marks a milestone for Taizhou's foreign trade and will further boost the city's economic development.