This winter, the Dalian Container Terminal (DCT) received its first shipment of imported cherries from Chile, which arrived aboard the refrigerated vessel Baltic Performer. This marks the first time cherries have been imported directly by ship to this port in northeastern China. The direct route with specialised reefer ships shortens the journey by about a week compared to traditional routes that involve stops.

Once unloaded at the DCT, the cherries will be transported using a cold chain system to various northeastern and northern China sales points, including wholesale markets and supermarkets. Maintaining optimal storage conditions during transport is critical to ensuring fresh fruit. To enhance the efficiency of the unloading process and facilitate customs clearance, the DCT established a "green channel" to expedite the arrival of these sought-after Chilean cherries.

"We reserved a berth exclusively for this ship and adjusted the unloading time according to temperature to maintain the quality of the cherries and minimise their exposure to the open air," explained Zhou Jinlu, deputy director of the Marketing Department of Dalian Container Terminal Co., Ltd. "The 'green channel' we implemented allows for zero delays in the departure of the cherries from the port," he added.

In recent years, Chilean cherries have gained popularity among Chinese consumers, especially during the Spring Festival celebrations, also known as the Chinese Lunar New Year. Chile is the top supplier of imported cherries to China. According to data from the General Administration of Customs, the country imported 362,500 tons of cherries in the first 11 months of 2024, with 96 per cent coming from Chile. During this time, the value of cherry imports from Chile reached approximately 19.956 billion yuan (about 2.81 billion dollars). Data from ProChile indicates that Chilean cherry exports reached a record level during the 2023-2024 harvest season, with 93 per cent destined for China. Cao Jing, sales director of Dalian Yidu Group Co., Ltd., one of many Chinese importers of Chilean cherries, noted that due to increased production in the current season and a rise in cherries shipped by sea, their prices in China are decreasing, making them more accessible to consumers.

The Port of Dalian is a leading maritime gateway in northeastern China and is an essential national cold chain logistics base. In addition to cherries, the port also facilitates the export of bananas, blueberries, white shrimp, and frozen meat products from Latin America.