Arriving vessel carried only a single container of Chilean cherries, all from grower-exporter Garces Fruit
The first seafreight container of Chilean cherries for the 2025/26 campaign has arrived in China, opening with a ceremonial unloading at Shanghai Huizhan Wholesale Market on 26 November.
The fruit travelled on the Maersk Yukon, which discharged in Hong Kong on 24 November. The vessel carried just a single container of Chilean cherries – all from leading grower-exporter Garces Fruit.
According to Garces Fruit, the inaugural shipment featured varieties including Black Pearl, Royal Dawn and Rainier. Key size grades are J, JJ and JJJ. Packaging formats include Red Garces 2n1 (2.5kg x2), San Francisco 5kg, Red Dreams 5kg and the Yellow Garces 2n1 (2.2kg x2).
Fu Lei, Garcés Fruit’s China sales and marketing manager, said the arrival of this first sea shipment signals the launch of Chile’s new-season seafreight programme into China. Multiple express cherry services are now lining up for December arrivals.
The first major fast-service vessel, MSC Lome V, is scheduled to berth at Nansha Port on 6 December carrying around 452 containers of Chilean cherries, of which Garcés accounts for approximately 153 containers. HMM Blessing is also slated to call into Hong Kong on 7 December with around 366 containers on board, including an estimated 62 from Garcés.
With multiple cherry express vessels set to arrive over the coming weeks, China’s market is expected to see a steady build-up in supply. This will support stable availability across wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels as demand heats up ahead of the peak Lunar New Year sales period.
