A container vessel carrying about 1,100 tons of Chilean cherries arrived in Shenzhen in the early hours of Tuesday, marking the first sea shipment of the 2025–2026 season. The fruit first reached Hong Kong by sea and was then transported to Shenzhen by cross-border trucks. After customs clearance, the cherries will move to major supermarkets and wholesale markets across South China, with the full process taking less than four hours from vessel arrival.
"From unloading in Hong Kong to customs clearance at the Shenzhen Bay Port, the entire process was efficient and smooth, effectively preserving the freshness and quality of the cherries," said Liu Juan, customs affairs manager of a local foreign trade company. Shenzhen expects at least one more dedicated cherry vessel to dock in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. During the previous peak import window from November 2024 to March 2025, Shenzhen ports handled 202,000 tons of cherry imports, equal to nearly 40 per cent of China's total, according to Shenzhen Customs.
Wu Weiguang, a customs officer at Shenzhen Bay Customs, said, "We carefully calculate the variables and instantaneous peak values in cherry clearance to arrange for inspection manpower in advance. By utilizing advanced technologies such as intelligent label recognition, we have significantly shortened inspection time, combining manpower and technologies, achieving fast inspection and clearance for cherries."
The Chilean Cherry Committee forecasts exports of 131 million boxes, totaling 655,000 tons for the current season. The Chilean Agriculture Minister reported that 93 per cent of this volume is destined for China, with 90 per cent shipped by sea. Direct maritime routes to China take 23 days. Chile has expanded its dedicated cherry express programme this year, planning 32 direct voyages, double last season's total.
Source: Bastille Post Global
