The Tianjin Port of North China has initiated a direct shipping route to expedite the import of cherries from Chile. This marks the first direct shipping service for Latin American cherries to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, according to port authorities.
A container ship carrying over 2,000 tons of Chilean cherries recently docked at Tianjin Port, signifying the inaugural trip via this new service. An additional two vessels, loaded with over 5,800 tons of cherries and other seasonal produce, are anticipated to arrive at the port within the week.
Chilean cherries have grown increasingly popular among Chinese consumers. “Over 1,840 tons of cherries that we imported this time have already been pre-sold,” stated Wei Shujian, president of Hebei Sunhola Group, a Chilean cherry importer.
Prior to this, cherries sold in northern China were primarily transported via highways or air services after entering China through southern ports, resulting in high logistics costs. The new route is expected to significantly reduce the overall cost of cherries, with estimates suggesting a price drop of 50 to 70 percent in wholesale markets in Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei.