On Sept. 18, a shipment of 11.7 metric tons of fresh Peruvian blueberries arrived at the Port of Tianjin after a 34-day sea voyage. This marks the first time that fresh blueberries from a South American country have been delivered to a port in northern China. Following their arrival, the blueberries were transported via cold chain logistics to the Gaobeidian Xinfadi Fruit and Vegetable Trading Center in Hebei province.
The successful arrival of these blueberries was made possible by the Port of Tianjin’s “Fruit Express” service, a key component of its direct shipping routes from South America. Since its official launch in December 2023, over 30 voyages on this route have been completed to import a variety of agricultural products, such as white shrimp, frozen beef, cherries and red wine. With the recent arrival, Peruvian blueberries have joined the list of premium South American fruits reaching the port, following in the footsteps of Chilean cherries.
The importer of the recent blueberry shipment was Baichuan Xunjie (Tianjin) International Trade Co. Ltd. (百川迅捷（天津）国际贸易有限公司). According to Wang Yihan, the company’s general manager, the Gaobeidian Xinfadi Fruit and Vegetable Trading Center serves as the key distribution hub for blueberries in northern China. Previously, most imported blueberries entered China through the ports of Shanghai and Shenzhen. However, direct shipment to Tianjin is anticipated to reduce transportation costs by approximately 60% compared with re-shipping from Shanghai.
Peruvian blueberries typically reach their peak shipping season by the end of October. Wang mentioned that the company expects another four 40-foot containers of blueberries to arrive at the port during the National Day holiday. From late November to early December, around 300 additional containers of blueberries are scheduled to arrive at the Port of Tianjin. By the end of this year, the company plans to shift 30–40% of its Chilean cherry imports to Tianjin to better serve consumers in northern China.
20.09.24
Source: ProduceReport.com
