Chilean fresh fruit exports suffer due to logistics delays

As a result of logistics delays in March of the current year, around 4.000 containers of Chilean cherries did not arrive on time in China, its main market, according to IQonsulting.

According to the president of the National Society of Agriculture (SNA), Cristián Allendes, around 30% of the volume of these supplies has problems and poor returns, and the customs entry processes in China have also complicated the commercialization of cherries in this market.

Fruit can take 15 days to clear customs, resulting in delayed sales and rotting. As a result, purchasers loose interest for the fruit. Prices that were previously between $4 and $3 are going to be $1, which means a very sharp drop, according to Allendes.

Blueberries have also faced problems. Almost half of the supplies of that berry suffered from the extension of 14 to 35 days in the time of arrival of the fruit to its destinations. A loss of 10% of these exports is projected, according to iQonsulting.

One of the main markets for Chilean blueberries is the United States, where, according to Allendes, there has also been pressure on the logistics chain due to the diversion of European ships that were going to Russia and that have been redirected due to the war in Ukraine. The president of SNA specified that before 4 weekly ships arrived in Philadelphia and today 8 are arriving.

As for table grapes, at the peak of the season (week 11) 6.5 million boxes were shipped. From the Federation of Fruit Producers (Fedefruta) they explained that half of these exports are sent, while 80% of the remaining half is in refrigerators and the cost of keeping it frozen is very high.

As for apples, from Fedefruta they explained that it is no longer a business to export this fruit, due to the high cost involved in sending them abroad.