- For this period, the main challenge that the sector will face will be to overcome the complexities of the logistics chain that impact the industry, through solutions that private and public actors have been working on together and where progress has already been made.
With the aim of kicking off the 2022-2023 fruit and vegetable export season, an event was held this Tuesday, November 22, at the Valparaíso South Pacific Terminal (TPS), which was attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela; the acting national director of SAG, Andrea Collao; the president of Asoex, Iván Marambio; the president of Camport, Daniel Fernández and the president of the Port Company of Valparaíso, Luis Eduardo Escobar, among other guests.
For this period, the main challenge that the agricultural sector will face will be to overcome the complexities of the logistics chain that impact the industry, through a series of solutions that have been jointly promoted by public and private actors. This is why the Government recently launched the Collaborative Logistics Plan to optimize the port foreign trade chain, with five axes of work, and announced the holding of various regional meetings, which are already underway.
Meanwhile, private actors presented a plan of 12 measures to the Government, where important progress has already been made in terms of the diversification of ports for the export of fresh fruit, for example, through Coronel, in the Biobío Region; and Ventanas, in the Valparaíso Region. This will facilitate the arrival of the fruit in better conditions and quality to its destination markets, as well as enabling exports closer to the production areas.
In addition, depending on the reality and specific problems of each port, private actors have been advancing in parallel in various areas. At the Valparaíso South Pacific Terminal, TPS, for example, the export cargo scheduling platform has already been enabled, as well as an increase in infrastructure and electrical connections, the diversification of cargo reception through the fruit train, the increase in combined loads and the increase in support areas in the Carrera Sector and the Logistic Support Extension Zone (ZEAL). At the same time, the use of trucks on the third shift is being promoted and the Valparaíso Port Technical Roundtable is being held, with biweekly meetings. In addition, from January to April of next year, the SAG will be enabled on third shifts.
At the Port of San Antonio, meanwhile, work has been done to reduce the closing hours of the ports by at least 30%, providing greater port availability and the logistics system in general. Additionally, in terms of land logistics, the use of third shifts has been increased in the movement of empty containers between warehouses and terminals, hoping to reach at least 20% of the total; while, in terms of security, regular meetings have been held with the Commission of Public Agencies and a drone flight plan has been activated to view the main cargo generators and warehouses in the area. In parallel, an active relationship has been maintained with the Logistics Community of San Antonio (COLSA) to establish an action plan between warehouses, shipping companies and transporters in the face of saturation scenarios and change of destination for the return of the container, among other measures.
At the Puerto Coquimbo Terminal, TPC, as regards transporters, the truck parking area will be moved to the southern entrance to Coquimbo (El Panul sector). This will allow for an increase in the capacity of extra-port parking as well as reducing the impact on vehicular traffic in Coquimbo. As regards systems, the automation of processes will be promoted to improve reporting at the different stages of fruit export.
The Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela stated: “We are happy to be able to launch, in a year of good rains, what promises to be a good season for fruit exports to Asia in particular, to China, especially for cherries, and together with Asoex, working together with a safe harbor and hopefully together we will also fight for traceability and avoid strikes that cause damage to the production chain, which is a challenge for the country and we are doing the most we can.”
The president of Asoex commented that “We are optimistic about the development of this new season of fruit exports, as we have been focused on promoting public-private solutions to address the logistical complexities and thus maintain Chile's leadership as a fruit exporter in the southern hemisphere.”
Daniel Fernández, president of the Chilean Maritime and Port Chamber, said “Camport and ASOEX presented the Government with a package of 12 measures or actions to improve the management and operation of port terminals during the high season, which seeks better coordination between private and public entities so that, as far as possible, we have a more fluid foreign trade.”
Luis Eduardo Escobar, president of the board of directors of Puerto Valparaíso, highlighted that “The fact that we are holding this inauguration of the Fruit Season here in Valparaíso is not a coincidence. Valparaíso, although not the largest port, plays a fundamental role in Chile's foreign trade and, of course, in the marketing of our fruits around the world. These records are achieved thanks to the great coordination and high levels of efficiency that exist throughout our port logistics chain, a virtuous alliance between workers, companies in the sector and public entities that work every day to keep Valparaíso among the best ports in South America.”
The general manager of Terminal Pacífico Sur Valparaíso, Oliver Weinreich, said: “As a port terminal, we have specialized in the transfer of this type of products that are key to our country’s foreign trade, because we know how important it is to have an excellent operation for the entire logistics chain. TPS and all the actors in this chain; producers, exporters, transporters, shipping agents, regulatory entities, etc., have invested and developed all the possibilities we see to support this industry: from the technological, equipment and, of course, the human aspect, which is the most important. We are all working together to make this peak season for fruit exports a very successful one.”
During the last season, Chile exported 2,647,532 tons of fresh fruit. Of this amount, 301 TP3T went to the United States, 291 TP3T to Asia, 201 TP3T to Latin America and 181 TP3T to Europe. Canada and the Middle East received 1.71 TP3T, respectively. The five main exported species, in terms of volume, were table grapes (231 TP3T), apples (231 TP3T), cherries (141 TP3T), plums (61 TP3T) and kiwis (5.11 TP3T).
