DP World Powers Chile’s Cherry Export Boom Ahead of Chinese New Year

DP World is expanding capacity, accelerating vessel operations, and enhancing cold-chain resiliency at its San Antonio terminal to ensure Chilean cherries reach China ahead of the 2026 Chinese New Year, the most important sales window for the country’s fresh fruit industry.
 
Nearly 90% of Chile’s cherries are destined for China, where the fruit symbolizes prosperity during Lunar New Year celebrations. The annual arrival of Chilean cherries has become a cultural and commercial phenomenon across major Chinese cities, driving record demand and reinforcing Chile’s leadership in premium fruit exports.
 
To meet the seasonal surge, DP World is deploying additional staff and implementing infrastructure and technology upgrades across its reefer operations, while coordinating closely with shipping lines, exporters, maritime agencies, and customs authorities, to maintain reliable express services to Asia.
 
Last season, the terminal handled more than 12.8 million boxes of cherries – double the previous year – supported by one of the most advanced reefer operations in the country, with more than 2,700 reefer plugs and advanced terminal technology. In 2024, the value of Chile’s cherry exports reached US$3.1 billion, underscoring the sector’s importance to the national agriculture and global trade.
 
Curtis Doiron, CEO of DP World in Chile, said: “Chile’s cherry exports are one of the country’s most important agricultural trade flows, and DP World is proud to help ensure their quality and timely arrival to global markets. Through coordinated planning, advanced reefer capacity, and our state-of-the-art mooring system, we are well-positioned to support another record season and give exporters reliable, predictable performance during the most time-sensitive period of the year.
 
Direct, rapid services remain central to the season’s logistics strategy. CMA CGM’s ACSA service and ZIM’s Albatros services will again provide rapid connections to key Asian markets. CMA CGM’s Cherry Express 2025 offers a 23-day transit time to Shanghai, with eight scheduled calls between November 28 and January 16.” 

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