Chile prioritises port logistics to protect fresh fruit quality

Port logistics has become a key factor for the competitiveness of Chilean fresh fruit exports, according to Claudia Soler, executive director of the Cherry Committee of Frutas de Chile.

Speaking at the fifth Port Meeting organised by Hanseatic Global Terminals Latin America, Soler said ports are no longer just an administrative step in the export process. For fresh fruit, they are a critical part of the chain that helps protect delivery times, product condition, and final quality.

The event brought together around 150 participants, including union leaders, port users, executives, and representatives from terminals in Iquique, Antofagasta, San Antonio, and San Vicente. Discussions focused on port security, operational efficiency, labour relations, customer experience, and the future of foreign trade.

Soler took part in a customer panel on how port operations create value for clients. She said the fresh fruit industry depends on a logistics chain that can maintain speed, quality, and predictability until the product reaches consumers.

She also stressed the importance of sharing the needs of fruit exporters directly with port workers, whose role affects how Chilean fruit arrives in international markets.

The programme also included presentations from workers and executives, a safety talk by Chilean triathlete Cristián Bustos, and a visit to San Antonio Terminal Internacional, described by Frutas de Chile as the country’s largest port terminal.

source and photo: frutasdechile.cl