Cherry industry on high alert as walkout threatens to derail the start of the new export season
The first Cherry Express vessel of the new Chilean cherry export season is to depart from the Port of Valparaíso after a truckers’ strike at Chile’s Port of San Antonio paralysed operations there.
The Independent Truckers’ Association of San Antonio (Agreporsai) blockaded access points to cargo depots at the port this week in protest at rising fuel prices, stopping trucks from entering or leaving with their loads.
On Thursday, Frutas de Chile announced that the shipment – due to leave next Monday – would now be departing from Valparaíso.
Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile, said the strike was causing great concern amongst the sector, noting that moving the service to Valparaíso creates logistical challenges and negatively impacts the economic activity of the city of San Antonio.
“The strike is directly affecting our industry, right at the start of the cherry season – the most critical time of the year for Chilean fruit exports,” Marambio stated. “Furthermore, the Port of San Antonio is already at 90 per cent of its storage capacity; should the strike continue, the ongoing shipment of fruit will be at risk.
“It is crucial to remember that we work with perishable products, the quality and condition of which depend on an efficient and timely logistics chain. We therefore urgently call upon all parties involved to reach a swift resolution that restores normal port operations, safeguards our exports, and ensures we can meet the commitments made to international markets.”
Frutas de Chile issued an urgent call to the parties involved in the conflict to reach a prompt resolution that restores normal operations at the Port of San Antonio and helps protect fruit exports during a critical period of the harvest season.
