The first Cherry Express shipment of the 2025/26 season arrived at the Port of Nansha on 5 December, carrying 8,000 tonnes of fresh cherries from Chile.
The 23-day journey marks the start of the peak activity period for the Chinese market.
On 5 December, the Port of Nansha in Guangzhou welcomed the MSC Lome V, the first Cherry Express vessel of the 2025/26 season.
On board were 370 refrigerated containers holding around 8,000 tonnes of cherries shipped from the Port of San Antonio in Chile.
Following customs inspections, the fruit was immediately distributed through the cold chain to wholesale markets and storage facilities across China.
According to Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile, the number of direct Cherry Express services to China has nearly doubled compared to last year.
This system allows Chilean exporters to reach Chinese consumers in just 23 days, ensuring higher quality and greater product freshness.
The Port of Nansha, one of the most advanced in the country, is equipped with a refrigerated storage facility located next to the main port area.
This allows all operations—from unloading to inspection and distribution—to take place in a temperature-controlled environment, with no breaks in the cold chain.
To efficiently manage Cherry Express arrivals, port staff have implemented a detailed operational plan that includes:
Thanks to these measures, cherries can be available on local markets as little as two hours after unloading.
The day after the vessel’s arrival, a Frutas de Chile delegation visited the Jiangnonghui market to closely monitor distribution stages and engage with logistics and sales managers.
Zheng Nanshen, the market’s general manager, highlighted how temperature management is a key factor:
“Once harvested, cherries are immediately cooled, then washed, sorted, inspected and packed. The entire journey to China takes place under a continuous cold chain, as does final delivery to markets and retailers.”
His advice to consumers? “Refrigerate them as soon as you get home to preserve their freshness.”
To support operators and maximise product value, Frutas de Chile has relaunched its educational video series aimed at traders and retail outlets.
The content, based on the “Best Practice Guide for Chilean cherries”, covers every stage—from harvesting and packing to logistics and in-store promotion.
A further step in strengthening the perception of Chilean cherries as a premium product, increasingly central to winter consumption in the Chinese market.
Text and image source: www.fruitnet.com
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