Executives from Coquimbo's Port Terminal (TCP) met with representatives of Chile's Fruit Exporters Association AG (ASOEX) in order to publicize the investments and improvements that the TPC is making to move the region's fresh winter fruit production.
"The purpose of our visit was to first get to know each other, and to tell the industry what is new in TPC, especially related to fruit exports, as we identified that enabling a land crane will allow us to strengthen the exports of winter fruits, such as citrus. The crane, which arrived at the end of 2017, will allow us to load container ships and that is why we've come to inform the exporting fruit industry that the port of Coquimbo has the capacity to load containers today, that is to say, that we are ready to move the winter fruit that is produced in the Fourth Region," said the general manager of TPC, Luis Fernando Raga.
Currently, Raga added, fruit is moved through TPC shipped in cold storage shipments, mainly table grape exports. Each season fruit shipments reach 60,000 pallets. "Grapes are currently the main fruit shipped in Coquimbo and its main destination is the United States. Having this crane will allow us to expand the handling of fruits, and be able to ship lemons, mandarins, clementines, oranges, nuts, avocados and plums, thus reducing the time it takes between the harvest, package and shipment of these products.
The general manager noted that apart form having made an investment in new infrastructure, they were currently in talks with some container service lines. "We are in advanced talks with some lines, so we hope we'll have regular stops in Coquimbo soon, and be ready for the winter fruit season that begins in April in the area," said Raga.
Martin Klempau, the commercial deputy manager of TPC added: "A positive aspect of the TPC is that it is very close to the cold storage facilities. The distance from these facilities to the port is very short, especially when compared with what the trucks must travel to the fifth region to be embarked. Here, exporters achieve a reduction in costs, in terms of transport, and save time; two key aspects for perishable products, such as fruit. In transport alone, producers are saving about 480 kilometers."
