ASOEX's Cherry Committee, through its Board partners, has reached an agreement with the ASPA1 shipping consortium regarding freight operations to Hong Kong and Shanghai on fast ships, which would take 22 and 25 days, respectively, between weeks 47 and 52. The initiative will benefit all members of the committee and of the Chilean cherry industry in general.
In this regard, Cristian Tagle, chairman of Committee, said this agreement was positive and stressed that this was a benefit that the Committee had obtained for its partners, but that it would benefit the entire industry. "The committee has achieved a very important agreement that will benefit the entire industry, as it will shorten transit times to the Chinese market in about five days. This time is ultimately gained in terms of sales allowing marketers to present the product in better conditions; all of which will support the promotional activities that have been defined to increase consumption of Chilean cherries in China starting next season," he said.
Meanwhile, Ronald Bown, president of ASOEX, said: "This shipping agreement reflects the spirit of the Board and of the members of the Cherry Committee to develop actions that benefit the industry as a whole, just like with the Chilean Cherries Promotion Program, that is bringing together a high percentage of the industry; an initiative that should be joined by all exporters, as this is one of our industry's main products and has a huge growth potential."
The goal of the Promotion Program that will be held in China is to significantly increase the consumption of domestic cherries. This will be the largest program to promote Chilean fresh fruit to date, as it will require an investment that ranges between $5 and $7 million dollars during the 2016-2017 campaign. It is also important to note that, even though the campaign will mainly focus on the Chinese market, which accounts for 80% of Chilean cherry exports, the promotion program also includes market research in South Korea and Japan; as well as promotional activities in the United States and Brazil. The annual program also includes activities for the prevention and control of quarantine pests with the Fruit Development Foundation (FDF), which has developed very modern technologies for the detection and evaluation of potential pests.
Cristian Tagle invited all cherry exporters to "join this initiative that is unprecedented in our history of fruit exports."
Data
According to statistics from ASOEX, Chile sent about 250,000 tons of fresh fruits to China during the 2014-2015 campaign. The table grapes, cherries and plums were the main exported species.
China is the main target market for the Chilean cherries, as Chile ships more than 80 percent of its cherries to Asia.
According to data from the Central Bank of Chile, the FOB values of the Chilean cherry exports during the 2015-2016 season amounted to 518 million dollars.
The head of the Cherry Committee, Cristian Tagle said: "The production of Chilean cherries is increasing. If there's no weather phenomena or any other issues that affect production, we expect the production and export volumes of the next season will exceed 100,000 tons."
More information
Fruit Exporters Association of Chile
Cruz del Sur 133, Piso 2, Las Condes, Santiago de Chile, Mesa Central: +56 2 2472 4700