The arrival of the HMM Blessing vessel marked the start of the Cherry Express service and the official kickoff of the 2025-2026 cherry export season at Terminal Pacífico Sur Valparaíso (TPS). The ship will carry 6,000 tons of Chilean fruit in refrigerated containers. This is the first of 17 ships that will directly connect Valparaíso to Chinese ports, with an average transit time of 22 days.
At the launch ceremony, attended by officials, exporters, transporters, and operators, TPS General Manager Cristian Rodriguez highlighted the scale of the challenge and the level of preparation achieved.
Rodriguez noted that TPS will have 3,400 plugs for refrigerated containers and will invest US$4 million in new, advanced cranes to support yard and shipping operations.
This season is expected to exceed 670,000 tons of cherries exported, a 7% increase over the previous cycle, with approximately 300,000 tons shipped from Valparaiso.
Alberto Corvalán, assistant commercial manager of TPS, emphasized that the Cherry Express is part of a long-term partnership with shipping companies and exporters.
Corvalán stated the service will gradually increase capacity, starting with 400 refrigerated containers and rising to 700, 1,000, 1,500, and up to 2,000 containers per week.
Franco Gandolfo, the general manager of Empresa Portuaria Valparaíso (EPV), stressed the importance of coordination among various actors in the port system. He pointed out that throughout the year, key elements like scheduling systems, inspections, and collaboration with carriers and shippers have been strengthened through efforts with FOLOVAP, which has over 19 years of experience.
Source: mundomaritimo.cl
