This is another pioneering shipment by MSC. Following the recent opening of the Chinese market to Chilean citrus, MSC was the carrier of choice for the very first ever shipment of Chilean citrus to Hong Kong.
Clementines
On 26 June, a vessel carrying 25 tons of clementines arrived in Hong Kong, marking the first ever shipment of Chilean clementines to China. MSC proudly enabled this historic achievement, connecting Asia and Latin America via the INCA Service.
This follows another recent milestone journey that saw MSC carry the first ever shipment of Colombian avocados to Shanghai.
New horizons
Citrus represent a prominent category among Chilean agricultural products. The country is the second largest exporter of citrus in the Southern hemisphere after South Africa, growing several varieties of the fruit, with the main four being navel oranges, lemons, clementines and mandarins, available from May through November.
MSC’s shipment followed the May 14 announcement by China’s General Administration of Customs, officially allowing for citrus fruits coming from Chile and meeting all the phytosanitary requirements to be exported to China.
While the main destination has traditionally been the United States, the opening of the Chinese market signals an incredible opportunity for Chile, providing an alternative to the country’s agricultural industry and opening the way to a potentially significant boost for citrus-growing regions locally.
