Advanced reefer infrastructure, expanded staffing, and new data capabilities strengthen Chile’s fresh fruit supply to Asia
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.
Almost 90 per cent of Chile’s cherries are destined for China, where the fruit symbolises prosperity during Lunar New Year celebrations. 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 handles more than 12.8mn cartons of cherries – double the previous year’s volume – supported by state-of-the-art reefer operations, with more than 2,700 reefer plugs and advanced terminal technology. In 2024, the value of Chile’s cherry exports reached US$3.1bn, 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”.
For the 2025/26 season, DP World expects the arrival of 13 cherry vessels and approximately 14,800 TEU. There is a projected increase in refrigerated cherry containers from 4,850 units to 5,350 units.
The season launched on 28 November with the arrival of the CMA CGM Fort Jame, with peak activity expected from 16-22 December. The last vessel to depart will be the CMA CGM Litani on 17 January.
DP World said additional vessel frequency will be driven by the ACSA service, extending the active export window into the third week of January.
