Chilean cherry exports to gain 20%

The new Chilean cherry season could increase by 20 percent, which would depend – along with climatic factors and logistics – on the continuing diversification of national and international ports that process fruit products produced in the country.

“There are a series of challenges in the future regarding production increases. As a result of some logistical problems that we had in the previous two seasons, work was done with stakeholders, shipping companies, ports and cargo operators so that together we can diversify the same ports, and in this way ensure that there are no bottlenecks towards the destinations,” Claudia Soler, executive director of the Cherry Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) BB #:156234, told Portual Portuario.

“Surely, we are going to have to diversify the ports in Chile and abroad and ensure that there is the number of ships available to transport cargo. Port development and technology will have to be in line with the volumes we have. There should be greater development for both the port of Valparaíso and San Antonio,” she added.

The director mentioned the union that brings together fresh fruit producing-exporting companies and highlighted China as the main destination, and assured that the Chilean port complexes “must go online” with the aim of increasing cherry exports.

In this regard, Soler indicated that “the processes need to be as expeditious as possible. With the production growth that we expect, we will need to continue working with the ports and stakeholders. The idea is that the cherry is not affected.”