As part of the celebration of the first arrival of a Cherry Express to the port of Dalian in China, ASOEX signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the operator of the port of Dalian, Liaoning Port Group, and the shipping company Maersk to improve the import of Chilean cherries and other fresh fruits in northeastern China.
“This MoU is a first step to formalize the relationships that Chilean fruit exporters already have with the Port of Dalian, an emerging and important port logistics hub in northeastern China,” stated Ivan Marambio, the president of ASOEX, during the signing of the agreement with the authorities of the port of Dalian and Maersk in China.
“We'll strive to exchange information and best practices aimed at facilitating our fresh fruit exports to this region,” he added.
The president of ASOEX said that the arrival of the first Cherry Express to the port of Dalian and the signing of this MoU reflect the efforts of the Chilean industry to diversify the ports of destination of Chilean cherries and fresh fruits in China to strengthen their presence in second and third level cities.
First Cherry Express
“Despite the many challenges we've faced, China is and will remain our main export partner in the Asian region and, for many species, in the world,” Marambio said.
The president of ASOEX also highlighted the efforts made by importers, distributors, exporters, and other ASOEX partners to improve the logistics and supply chains this year.
He also welcomed the close collaboration between port authorities, customs agents, municipal officials, and ship crews to carry out a customs clearance process in less than an hour for the Chilean cherries that arrive in the port of Dalian. “All these efforts allow us to preserve the quality of the fruit, reducing costs and logistical delays so that the fruit arrives with the quality, condition, and freshness that consumers expect.”
Cherry exports
According to a new estimate by the ASOEX Cherry Committee, Chilean will export more than 80 million boxes of fresh cherry this season, i.e. about 400,000 metric tons of cherries. This figure is lower than the 89 million boxes estimated in October but it would still be a record.
As the main destination for Chilean cherries, the Chinese market is of vital importance for Chilean producers and exporters.