Frutas de Chile and Eastern Air Logistics sign agreement to boost shipments of cherries to China
Frutas de Chile and Eastern Air Logistics (EAL), an air cargo company belonging to China Eastern Air Holding Company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote cooperation and the exchange of information to facilitate air shipments of fresh Chilean cherries to China.
This agreement includes the exchange of trade data and customs procedures and seeks to enhance mutual support in advertising and promotion activities.
Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile, said the agreement would allow Chile to boost shipments of fresh fruit by air to a market that is becoming increasingly important as a destination for Chilean exports.
Chile exported 18,000 tonnes of fresh to China by air last season, 81 per cent of which were cherries, 16 per cent plums, 3 per cent table grapes and 1 per cent blueberries and other stonefruit.
Claudia Soler, executive director of the Chilean Fruit Cherry Committee, added that the deal would allow companies to take advantage of certain windows where there are no cherries and prices are higher.
The MoU was signed at Santiago airport during the celebration of the tenth anniversary of China Eastern Air Logistics in Chile. In the past decade, the company has transported more than 50,000 tonnes products such as cherries, blueberries, salmon and wine, valued at more than US$1bn, from Chile to China.
“What we have found in Chile are opportunities. We are currently developing a codeshare, while delivering new routes from Santiago to Australia and then China. With these codes we can achieve better growth,” said Fang Hong, CEO of China Eastern Cold Chain.
