File photo shows workers process cherries at a factory in Mostazal, Chile, Dec. 13, 2024. (Photo by Jorge Villegas/Xinhua)

Shanghai - Shanghai, China's busiest port, is gearing up for a record influx of Chilean cherries, with over 250,000 tonnes expected to arrive before the Chinese New Year in February next year, the municipal customs authorities said Monday.

With the beginning of the 2025-2026 Chilean cherry harvest season, the so-called "Cherry Express" cargo ships have already sent two shipments to Shanghai so far this month, with a total volume of 216.9 tonnes.

Leading up to the New Year and the traditional Chinese New Year holiday in February next year, a peak consumption period will be unleashed in China.

According to Shanghai Customs, about 31 dedicated "Cherry Express" ships are expected to arrive at the city's Yangshan Port before the holiday, potentially delivering around 250,000 tonnes of cherries to Shanghai, from where the fruit can be efficiently distributed across China.

This year's Chilean cherry imports are expected to be two to three times higher than last season, highlighting China's growing importance as a market for Chilean cherries.

To cope with the seasonal fruit influx, Shanghai Customs has deployed increasingly sophisticated smart supervision technologies. A key innovation is the "intelligent evaluation system for cold treatment effects" on fresh fruit.

Shanghai Customs has also established a mechanism with its counterpart in Chile, which allows the Chinese side to access and verify the required data online, thereby boosting the efficiency of customs clearance.