DP World is bolstering its cold chain resilience at its San Antonio terminal as Chile prepares for another record cherry export season ahead of the 2026 Chinese New Year.
Nearly 90 per cent of Chile’s cherries are shipped to China, where demand peaks during Lunar New Year celebrations.
To keep pace with this surge, DP World is expanding staffing levels, accelerating vessel operations and upgrading reefer capability, while working closely with shipping lines, exporters, customs and maritime agencies to maintain reliable express services to Asia.
Last season, the terminal handled more than 12.8 million boxes of cherries, double the previous year, supported by more than 2,700 reefer plugs and advanced terminal systems.
Chile’s cherry exports reached $3.1 billion USD in 2024, underscoring the sector’s global importance.
“For Chile, cherry exports are one of the most important agricultural trade flows and DP World is proud to help ensure their quality and timely arrival to global markets,” said DP World Chile CEO, Curtis Doiron.
“Through coordinated planning, advanced reefer capacity and our state-of-the-art mooring system, we are well-positioned to support another record season.”
For the 2025–26 season, DP World expects 13 cherry vessels and around 14,800 TEU, with refrigerated containers rising from 4,850 to 5,350 units.
The season begins on 28 November with the arrival of CMA CGM Fort Jame, peaks between 16–22 December, and concludes on 17 January with CMA CGM Litani.
Additional frequency from CMA CGM’s ACSA service will extend export activity into late January.
To manage rising volumes, DP World has increased reefer technician staffing by 20 per cent, deployed power packs to free reefer racks, expanded maintenance support, introduced real-time remote monitoring for all connected containers and continued its use of an export scheduling system to optimise truck flows and yard efficiency.
Automated vacuum-mooring technology will also speed vessel turnaround.
Express connections remain central to the program, with CMA CGM’s ACSA and ZIM’s Albatros services again linking Chile to key Asian ports. CMA CGM’s Cherry Express 2025 service will provide a 23-day transit time to Shanghai, with eight calls scheduled between 28 November and 16 January.
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