Season’s First Shipments of Chilean Cherries Land in Shanghai

On the evening of Oct. 17, the first air-freighted shipments of Chilean cherries of the season arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, marking the official start of the 2026/27 Chilean cherry season.

Two shipments of cherries arrived that evening, both imported by Shanghai Haojiu Industrial Development Co. Ltd. (上海浩久实业发展有限公司供图). The following morning, at 6 a.m. on Oct. 18, another shipment imported by Shanghai Ivcsun Supply Chain Management Co. Ltd. (上海爱泽供应链管理有限公司供图) also arrived in Shanghai.

The two shipments imported by Haojiu consisted of 476 and 590 cartons, featuring the Cherry Cupid and Royal Tioga varieties, respectively. Packed in 2.5-kilogram cartons, the cherries had clean skins and bright colors, with sizes ranging from J to 4J. The shipments reached Shanghai Huizhan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market at 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively. Nearly 100 wholesalers and retailers had gathered at the market late into the night, ready to capture the opening of the season’s first cherry shipments.

Shortly after the first shipment arrived, Produce Report interviewed Zhong Hui, a representative of Haojiu. He explained that the cherries originated in Chile’s Coquimbo region, where sunny weather had provided favorable conditions for harvesting. The shipment was primarily destined for customers in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Beijing, as well as fruit retail chains such as Xianfeng and sellers on Douyin. He added that more air-freighted cherries were expected to arrive the following week.

The shipment from Ivcsun consisted of 1.5 pallets, totaling 222 cartons of AG2 cherries, a proprietary variety developed by Global AG. The fruit was packed in 2.5- and 5-kilogram cartons, with most cherries sized 2J and 3J, along with smaller quantities of J and 4J. Given the relatively small shipment volume, the cherries were transported directly to Ivcsun’s business park following customs inspection. They will be distributed through retail and e-commerce channels, including Freshippo, JD.com, Dingdong, Xiaoxiang Supermarket and Douyin livestream sellers.

AG2 is regarded as a standout early-season variety, known for its complex flavor profile and large fruit size. It received highly positive reviews when it was first introduced to the Chinese market last year.

In recent years, climate change has led to earlier cherry ripening. Together with improvements in varieties and cultivation techniques, this has helped make mid-October the typical arrival window for the first Chilean cherries of the season. Volumes remain limited at the start of the season, with shipments currently arriving in China via commercial passenger flights.

According to Frutas de Chile, Santina is expected to become Chile’s leading export variety in 2026, while export volumes of Lapins and Regina are projected to remain stable. Chilean cherry exports for the 2026/27 season are forecast to reach 132 million 5-kilogram cartons, with an updated estimate expected later this month.

Images: Shanghai Haojiu Industrial Development Co. Ltd. (main image and body images one and two), Shanghai Ivcsun Supply Chain Management Co. Ltd. (body images three and four)