In January, China's procurement of Chilean cherries accounted for 93% of Chilean cherries exports, and trade interaction significantly increased. According to Prochile, the value of these purchases reached $1.4 billion, an increase of 30.8% from the previous year. According to Chinese customs data, over 90% of China's cherries are imported from Chile.
The bilateral trade relationship is based on the 2017 China Chile Free Trade Agreement, which exempts tariffs on over 97% of trade goods (including cherries) between the two countries. Chilean cherries continue to grow in exports to China, with an average annual growth rate of 29% over the past seven years, highlighting China's strong demand for this fruit.
In order to improve logistics efficiency, COSCO Shipping has launched the "Chelizi Express" route, reducing the shipping time to 23 days. In addition, the advancement of air cargo will shorten the transportation time using dedicated cargo planes to 30 hours. This logistics optimization is crucial for maintaining the freshness of cherries upon arrival in China.
The trade scope is not limited to cherries, Chile and China also exchange other fresh fruits, including nectarines, peaches, and apples, further diversifying their trade portfolio. Recently, fresh Chilean silver salmon entered the Chinese market in December, highlighting the expansion of trade relations between the two countries.
