The Chilean Cherry Association and the shipping organisation ASPAI signed a new contract recently. During this year's cherry season, Chilean cherries will be shipped from Chile's main port to the ports of Hong Kong and Shanghai in only 22 to 25 days. During last year's production season, the sea transport took one week longer. Faster transportation means fresher cherries with a better quality. It also means a higher market price. This is without any doubt very good news for the large export market, the import market and the sales market.
From the Chilean side, one cultivation market after another comments on how helpful the shorter transportation time will be in promoting Chilean cherries in China during 2016 and 2017. 80% of the Chilean cherries are exported to China. The export market plans to invest five to seven million USD to promote the cherries in China during the new production season.
Ronald Bown, chairman of the Chilean Fruit Export Association, expresses that "this sea transport agreement reflects the efforts of the board of directors and members of the Chilean Cherry Association to accelerate the development of the entire trade forward. Like the plans for promotion of the Chilean cherries, this agreement brought together all export markets to create a major force that propels the development of the trade forward."