Port of Wilmington, Delaware Welcomes the First Shipment of Chilean Fruit for the 2008-2009 Season

Port of Wilmington, Delaware Welcomes the
First Shipment of Chilean Fruit for the 2008-2009 Season

(Wilmington, Del.) – The Port of Wilmington, Delaware welcomed this year’s first shipment of Chilean winter fruit onboard Pacific Seaways’ (PSW) chartered reefer vessel, m/v Royal Klipper, on Friday, December 19. Wilmington is the nation’s leading marine terminal for imports of perishable cargoes and a major port of entry and distribution center for Chilean fruit.

Last season, 150,000 pallets of Chilean fruit with a retail value of $600 million moved across the Port’s docks and through its modern warehouses, and were distributed as far North as Canada’s maritime provinces and as far west as the Mississippi River. This year’s Chilean fruit season has started later than expected due to climatic conditions; however, shippers are pleased with the large harvest and excellent quality of fruit portending a strong shipping season.

“We are excited about the beginning of another Chilean fruit importation season,” said Gene Bailey, executive director of the Diamond State Port Corporation. “With our global economy, North American consumers are now accustomed healthy and delicious fresh fruit from Chile in the winter time and we are pleased to help meet the market’s demand, especially during the holiday season,” added Bailey.

Pacific Delaware discharges Chilean fruit at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware

PSW and its American arm, Pacific Delaware, have chartered six of the world’s largest, and most modern specialized reefer ships to transport this year’s cargo. The Port of Wilmington anticipates a total of 29 ship-calls from the Chilean ports of Valparaiso, Coquimbo and Caldera carrying primarily table grapes, but also plums, nectarines, apricots, peaches, cherries, kiwi and other deciduous fruit through April.

Pacific Seaways enjoys a unique competitive advantage as the only carrier offering its shippers and importers a direct service from Chile to one US East Coast port, the Port of Wilmington,” said Mark Murphy, president of Pacific Delaware. “By leveraging its supply chain efficiencies the PSW express service gets its customer’s fruit to the market quicker than our competitors,” he added.

About the Port of Wilmington, Delaware

Founded in 1923, the Port of Wilmington is a full service Mid-Atlantic seaport on the Delaware River strategically located to provide overnight access to 200 million North American consumers. Wilmington ranks as the world’s top banana port, and the nation’s leading gateway for imports of fresh fruit and juice concentrates. An economic engine for the State of Delaware and the region, it is responsible for over 19,000 jobs, $409 million in business revenue, and $28 million in annual local taxes. The Port is owned and operated by the Diamond State Port Corporation, a corporation of the State of Delaware.

- End -