Manzanillo Express, a Hapag-Lloyd ship and part of the Cherry Express service that operates from November to February, arrived at the Port of Hong Kong from Puerto Valparaíso with a record number of Chilean cherry containers on board.
1,222 active refrigerated containers were unloaded in Hong Kong, the largest number of Chilean cherry containers ever unloaded in Hong Kong from a single stopover.
“We are going to Hong Kong with our Cherry Express service because we know we can rely on Hong Kong terminals' efficient service. Our customers appreciate the Hot Box arrangement in Hong Kong, which allows them to pick up the container immediately after it has been unloaded from the vessel. This service allows cherry containers to be transported across the border and to consumer markets across southern China in just a few hours after landing in Hong Kong,” stated Axel von Bloh, the general manager of Hapag-Lloyd's Hong Kong office.
Chile's high-quality cherry is a popular gift in mainland China before the Chinese New Year. Having consumers receive the cherries in their original fresh and tasty state is a priority for Chilean exporters and importers in southern China. The exclusive Hot Box service makes Hong Kong the main gateway for thousands of containers each year.
“Hong Kong is a free port, allowing for fast shipping of containers from terminals. This makes Hong Kong the preferred gateway for many high-value perishables. It looks like it will be another amazing season for Chilean cherries in China. We congratulate Chilean exporters and Chinese importers for the positive results and thank them all for their confidence in Hong Kong as s gateway to China and the rest of Asia,” stated Horace Lo, Group Managing Director of Modern Terminals Ltd.
Source: portalportuario.cl