The operation meant several days’ reduction in transit time between both countries, allowing the fruit to arrive in better conditions to the Asian giant.
Costa Rica, September 2017. In an unprecedented and momentous instance, Puerto Caldera made the first shipment of fresh pineapple destined directly to China. Green Costa Rica was the vessel commissioned to transport some 3,400 tons (representing approximately 170 containers), which is the highest volume ever transported in one direct trip, in an operation that lasted around 36 hours.
“This shipment is considered a great opportunity for Costa Rica’s export sector and one that will finally allow putting our products in the Asian market. This great step represents tremendous growth opportunities for our national economy, as well as achieving global recognition of our fruit’s quality,” stated Rodrigo Pommiez, Commercial Manager of the terminal.
For the executive, one of the most important issues of this operation is the time of transit between Costa Rica and the Asian giant, which will be reduced in a significant number of days, thus allowing the products (pineapples and bananas) to reach the end consumption markets in optimum conditions,” he added.
Chinese and Costa Rican authorities attended the shipping process, in addition to terminal executives, who supervised the process and expressed their thanks to all those involved in making this a successful operation.
For Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera, this constitutes an important milestone, as it makes it possible to provide a real growth option to the export sector and to the country’s economy.
Puerto Caldera is the largest terminal of the Costa Rican Pacific Coast and the second in terms of cargo mobilized in the country. In 2016 it transferred over 5.5 million tons, with the main cargo being containers (268 thousand TEUs in 2016) and bulk cargo such as cereals, fertilizers, raw materials and flours. In February of the current year, SAAM materialized its entry to the terminal obtaining control of 51% of Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera (SPC) and Sociedad Portuaria Granelera de Caldera (SPGC).
