Hapag-Lloyd's Senior Vice President for Chile, Christian Seydewitz, participated in a panel at the 3rd edition of the Global Cherry Summit, held on April 19 in Chile, where he spoke on behalf of the shipping sector, a key link in the export of cherries.
"China is the largest market for Chilean cherry but there are clear opportunities in the US and in Europe. We need to work together to take advantage of them, just like we did with the implementation of the Cherry Express service," Seydewitz stated. Collaboration is key to overcoming major challenges, such as the increase in volumes and how these will be handled, the executive added. "I believe that this instance opens the doors to the different stakeholders to talk and find the way in which, with everyone's contribution, the country can take on the great challenge of mobilizing 6,000 containers in four weeks; something we currently do not have the capacity to do," he stated.
To be able to assimilate that large volume in such a short time, the logistics chain requires adequate port infrastructure, sufficient drivers and trucks, ships with the necessary plugs and extra loaders availability, and, of course, the ability to seek new solutions, he stated. "I think it is clear that we are going to send the cargo through different areas, not only through the central area, and that's a conversation we must have," he said.
In Asia, the situation is similar. The risks are greater if all the cargo is concentrated in a single port, he stated. "Two years ago there was a test with a new port. We sent three ships directly to a Chinese port. In other words: we must work here, but we also need to work in the destination, and that must be done with the client," he stressed.
"Alejandro GarcĂa Huidobro, the General Manager of Exportadora Prize, expressed it perfectly: the customers started the Cherry Express. They contacted each of the shipping companies and started working on it under the condition that it was a win/win scenario. Now, we must work together again to face the current challenges and we must do it putting all cards on the table because everyone wants the industry to do well," he stated.
During the logistics panel, Garcia Huidobro spoke about the multiple problems that exporters faced with various shipping lines in the last season, with the exception of Hapag-Lloyd, with whom it was possible to maintain constant communication.
Source: mundomaritimo.cl