The new Chancay-to-Shanghai shipping route is speeding up the delivery of South American fruits to China, providing consumers with a more diverse selection of fresh and exotic produce.
Peru's Chancay Port, built by Chinese companies, officially opened in Peru last month, with the leaders of both countries in attendance.
On December 18th, the first direct cargo shipment—carrying over 20,000 tons of Peruvian specialty fruits, including blueberries, avocados, grapes, and mangoes—arrived at Yangshan Port in Shanghai, marking the inaugural bidirectional connection between Chancay Port and Shanghai Port.
Among these fruits, 180 boxes of Peruvian grapes are temporarily stored in a warehouse before being moved to the packaging line. The variety, called "Candy Snap," is currently in harvest season in Peru. While they are relatively small, their taste is unique, with a distinct strawberry flavor.
Chen Xiang, a fruit importer whose company regularly imports Peruvian fruits such as blueberries, grapes, and avocados to China, noted that the opening of the shipping route has significantly reduced logistics costs.
"Logistics used to take between 35 and 45 days, but the new shipping line cuts that time to just 23 days. The shorter transit time greatly improves the quality of the fruit," said Chen Xiang, commodity director of Riverking Logistics.
Fresh fruits typically stay in warehouses for only two or three days—or even less—before reaching supermarket shelves. As this is the first season for "Candy Snap" grapes in China, they must first undergo food inspections. Once approved, the grapes are repacked and sent to their next destination; supermarkets.
"It's summer in the Southern Hemisphere, making this the import season for fruits like cherries and grapes. We'll closely monitor the performance of these grapes in the market, as we believe they have great potential," said Cheng Shizhuo, head at Grape Purchase Department of Freshippo.
The popularity of "Candy Snap" grapes in China remains to be seen, but South American fruits are already favorites among Chinese consumers, particularly as holiday gifts.
The Chancay-to-Shanghai shipping route is expected to further boost trade between the two countries. Currently, one ship operates weekly on the route, with plans to increase frequency to strengthen trade across the Asia-Pacific region.
China has been Peru's largest trading partner and largest export market for 10 consecutive years. From 2016 to 2023, bilateral trade grew at an average annual rate of 14.6 percent, reaching 37.69 billion U.S. dollars last year.
Chancay-to-Shanghai shipping route boosts South American fruit imports to China
Chancay-to-Shanghai shipping route boosts South American fruit imports to China
Welcoming 2025 in the UAE, locals and visitors from around the world came together to celebrate the New Year with dazzling light displays, laser shows, and fireworks at the world’s tallest building in Dubai, as well as breathtaking fireworks and a captivating drone performance in Ras Al Khaimah, the UAE's northernmost emirate.
As the clock struck midnight in Dubai, a spectacular nine-minute performance themed 'Beyond Dreams' officially began at the world’s tallest building -- the Burj Khalifa. The show featured a mesmerizing blend of light displays, lasers, and fireworks.
Over 15,600 firework elements and more than 200 laser beams lit up the city, infusing vibrant colors and electrifying energy into the New Year celebrations.
Another 36 fireworks display sites across Dubai also lit up simultaneously, brightening the Dubai skyline.
Thousands of tourists from around the globe gathered near the iconic building to revel in the spectacular night and make their New Year wishes.
"For me, lose a couple of pounds. That's the usual thing. And to travel more. Travel more and see the world," said Carlos Fong, an American tourist.
"Obviously doing our best, being the greatest that we can be, and looking forward to another year," shared Maryam, an Australian tourist.
"Work, good work, make money. That's my goals for the year 2025," noted Elias Manjui from Germany.
"For everyone, have a good year, stay happy, keep smiling," added Zeeshaan, a tourist from the UK.
"We wish for all people health, this is very important, and everybody must be happy together," said a Slovak tourist.
At the same time, Ras Al Khaimah bid farewell to 2024 and welcomed the New Year with a dazzling spectacle of drones and fireworks.
Set against the stunning 4.5-kilometer seafront, vibrant fireworks and a fleet of 1,400 drones illuminated the night sky. The drones artistically formed shapes such as the UAE's national treasure -- the falcon -- and iconic palm trees, among others.
Tourism officials emphasized that no effort had been spared in preparing for the grand show.
"We have been preparing for the fireworks in Ras Al Khaimah for years. This is something that continues, and usually, when we finish the last firework, we start automatically preparing for the next year because this is one of our biggest shows of the year," said Raki Phillips, CEO of the Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA).
The performance drew over 100,000 on-site spectators, many of whom expressed their admiration.
"I've traveled over, probably easily over 18 countries, and I had New Year's in so many countries. And I've seen fireworks, a lot of it. This was probably one of the best ones I've seen," said Myra Jacques, a tourist from Fiji.
UAE rings in 2025 with spectacular fireworks, dazzling lights, drone displays
