DALIAN -- Dalian Port in Northeast China has opened a direct shipping route to import cherries from Chile.

The ship GSL Tinos, loaded with 616 TEUs of Chilean cherries, docked on Wednesday at the container terminal in Dalian after a 22-day trip.

Of the total, 592 TEUs of cherries will be delivered directly to the wholesale markets in China. The others will be transferred to the Republic of Korea (ROK) via Dalian Port.

Chilean cherries are increasingly favored by Chinese consumers, and the market demand continues to rise. "China has become our main market and strategic partner," said Victor Maroto, a representative of Chilean shippers.

According to Liaoning Port Co Ltd, which owns Dalian Port, Chilean cherries were mostly distributed to the Chinese market through ports such as Busan in the ROK and Shenzhen in China in the past. The opening of the direct shipping route will provide customers in Northeast China and northern China with faster service.

In recent years, Dalian Port has continuously built a cold-chain logistics center and promoted the distribution of imported fruits. In 2022, the throughput of imported fruits in Dalian Port increased by 23 percent year-on-year.