Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

With the beginning of the 2025-26 Chilean cherry harvest season, the Shanghai port is gearing up for a peak influx of Chilean cherries. At least 31 "Cherry Express" cargo ships are expected to arrive at the city's Yangshan Port before the Chinese New Year, delivering about 250,000 tons of cherries to Shanghai and its surrounding markets, with the import volume being two to three times that of the previous season, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday.

With two months to go before the 2026 Chinese New Year, these figures serve as an early indicator of a consumption boom during this traditional festival. More importantly, they reflect the immense potential of the Chinese market and the emergence of a "super consumption season" that is increasingly crucial to global supply chains.

The Chinese New Year has long been a vital window for observing the Chinese economy, and today, this window opens onto an increasingly global view. In the past, Chinese New Year shopping lists were once filled mainly with local specialties. Nowadays, "foreign New Year goods" such as Chilean cherries, Norwegian salmon, and Australian lobsters have evolved from rare gifts into regular household choices for ordinary people. 

This change points clearly to an upgrade in consumption patterns as Chinese consumers are increasingly pursuing higher quality, richer experiences, and greater variety. This upgrade extends beyond fresh agricultural produce into diverse areas. For instance, during the festival period, Chinese travelers explore destinations worldwide, and smart devices emerge as popular gifts, together sketching a multi-layered picture of modern consumption.

Behind this consumption upgrade lies China's steadily deepening opening-up. In recent years, China has progressively lowered its overall tariff level and eased market access. From pilot free trade zones to the China International Import Expo, the country has built an open framework geared toward "buying globally and benefiting globally." 

Agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership have further expanded access to the Chinese market. As a result, overseas businesses have gained stable and growing market opportunities, sharing in the dividends of China's development, while domestic consumers enjoy a wider selection of high-quality international goods, elevating their everyday living standards.

In this sense, Chinese New Year consumption reflects the internal momentum of China's domestic market as it moves toward higher quality and more diversified demand. With a middle‑income population exceeding 400 million, per‑capita disposable income reaching 41,300 yuan ($5,864) in 2024, and a continued decline in the Engel's coefficient, China's endogenous growth dynamic creates a lasting appeal for global suppliers, turning the festive "shopping cart" steadily into a "global shelf."

Moreover, the close interaction between China's market and global supply chains also gives the "Chinese New Year economy" notable international relevance. From Chilean orchards and Norwegian fishing grounds to French vineyards and Southeast Asian farmlands, production and logistics schedules in many regions take account of China's festive calendar. 

The holiday consumption boost lifts exports to China from numerous countries, delivering tangible economic benefits worldwide. This illustrates just how deeply integrated China's consumer market has become within global trade networks. By proactively opening its doors and expanding imports, China is translating the vast demand born of its own development into shared opportunities for the world, contributing stability and positive momentum to the global economy.

The Chinese New Year has evolved into a large‑scale, multi-faceted "super consumption season" with worldwide reach. Its impact now parallels and even exceeds that of major Western shopping periods, while also reflecting the unique rhythms of China's economic and social development. More than a traditional festival, it has become an important cultural and economic window through which the world can perceive China's consumer vitality, its commitment to openness, and its growing role as a growth pole.