This Monday, various leaders of fruit unions called to stop the 25% increase in refrigerated freight rates, which was announced by shipping companies and which is added to those carried out in recent times.

The representatives indicated that the new increase in sea freight coincides with the start of the 2022-2023 export season for cherries and other fruits such as blueberries and nectarines, once again significantly affecting shipments with increases.

The situation worries the fruit industry, since one of the most expensive destinations is Asia, where a large part of the national fruit arrives and is especially important for cherry exports, more than 90% of which are destined for China.

Regarding fresh fruit in general, the president of the National Agricultural Society (SNA), Cristián Allendes, explained that "we see that the price of refrigerated maritime transport has increased in an incomprehensible manner. Added to this is that the shipping companies have not met the agreed deadlines, which has caused our products to arrive late and in poor condition, without assuming their responsibility for this poor service.

For the beginning of this season, the rate would show an increase of almost 100% in the last two years. The new increase that would begin this month of November has generated confusion among fruit producers and exporters represented by SNA, Asoex and Fedefruta, who point out that worldwide maritime cargo rates have dropped sharply.

They also warn that this situation affects the profitability of agricultural production, especially fresh fruit, and that the latter could see its continuity affected, putting the more than 600.000 direct and indirect jobs it generates at risk.

In this regard, the president of the Federation of Fruit Producers of Chile (Fedefruta), Jorge Valenzuela, pointed out that "we are in a very difficult period of adjustment due to the last two seasons that have been very complex due to the increase in costs, the consequences of the logistical upheaval in the condition of the fruit and the income of producers. "We have to lift the fruit season at any cost."

He added that "in 2022 we have made known the effects that these types of actions have meant for the sector. "We have held various meetings and sat down to seek solutions with legislators and actors in the chain, but these unsustainable tariffs are suffocating Chilean producers and exporters."

For his part, the president of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex), Iván Marambio, pointed out that "the news about the increase in maritime freight costs surprises and worries us, especially because there is no basis to support it." justify, since at an international level there is evidence of a contraction in the demand for ships, leading to a drop in freight and container prices.

Marambio added that this increase not only contradicts the signs of international trade, but also with all the work that has been promoted along with the logistics chain.

«We have been working with all the actors in the logistics chain to ensure a normal 2022-2023 fruit export season, where shipping companies are also integrated, because we know that by working together we can face the challenges for the benefit of all.

In fact, together with Camport we developed a plan with 12 measures to improve the management and operation of port terminals during the high season, which we delivered to the authorities, therefore, we are surprised, after coordinated work, the announcements about these increases," he noted.

In the Mundo Marítimo environment, Daniel Fernández, president of Camport, pointed out that of the measures that were addressed in the work tables with the fruit sector, "there are no tariff issues, since it could not be included because it is not our role to coordinate nor apply tariffs, because it would affect free competition”. "If the expectation was that the issue of rates would be taken into account, it may have been a misinterpretation on their part," he added.

International Trade

The representatives indicated that a recent report by the international maritime trade consultancy, Drewryda, states that the Chartering Index continues to show a decline during October and it is expected that it would continue to decline in November. They emphasize that this is also manifested in the drop in container costs. Likewise, Shanghai Export Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) also observes a drop in maritime freight.