Cherries choose MSC
The Switzerland-headquartered Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has started its new express service for cherry and fresh fruit cargo from Chile to Asia. The so-called "Cherry Express service" will run as a joint carrier agreement, connecting Asia and the west coast of Latin America.
The service will connect Valparaiso, Chile with a transit time to Hong Kong in 23 days. Shipments will arrive in Nansha and Shanghai in 25 and 26 days respectively, via transhipment from Hong Kong. In addition, shippers can rely on MSC’s feeder network to reach other Southeast Asia destinations.
To complement the regular new service, MSC will operate exclusively two more vessels, the MSC "Alessia" and the MSC "Fiammetta", with fast shipping service for weeks 49 and 51. Both vessels will sail on different days compared to the regular schedule and provide direct connection to a few different ports in Greater China, Shanghai and Nansha, amongst others.
The Asoex (Fruit Exporters Association of Chile) Cherry Committee estimates a growth of 36% in exports for the 2020-2021 season, as compared to the previous season, which translates into approximately 15,500 container loads of cherries. (cd)