Food & Beverages
Demand for Chinese food and beverages keeps growing in Central Asia, Russia and the Middle East. In Kazakhstan, imports of Chinese fruit and vegetables rose 39% to USD 181.7 million in the first nine months of 2025, making China the country's largest supplier of fruit and vegetables. In 2025, Chinese agricultural exports to the UAE reached USD 1.57 billion, up 22.1% year on year, making the UAE China's largest agricultural export market in the Middle East. In Russia, Chinese beer supplies exceeded those from Germany and the Czech Republic for the first time. However, shelf life, cold chain, customs and certification, and adapting to local tastes remain key challenges in entering these markets.
Common Challenges When Going Global
- High customs and certification barriers: food products are subject to ingredient review, labelling, sanitary certificates, halal certification and more; incomplete documentation easily leads to goods being held or even returned.
- Strict shelf-life and cold-chain requirements: improper temperature control during transport and storage directly affects product quality and shelf life.
- Adapting to local tastes and packaging: markets differ in their preferences for sweetness, spices, packaging language and pack sizes, so adjustments must be made in advance.
Our Solutions
- Customs clearance and product certification: assistance with Halal, EAC and other food-related certifications, plus review of labelling and ingredient compliance to ensure smooth clearance.
- Temperature-controlled transport and storage: cold-chain transport, temperature-controlled warehousing and fast-turnover solutions to protect food quality.
- Market research and channel entry: analysis of consumer preferences, price ranges and channel structure in the target market, and support with entering supermarkets, convenience stores and wholesale markets.
- Brand localisation: recommendations on packaging, brand communication and product flavours to match local consumer habits.
