Chinese authorities have decided that all the fruit in the 1,300 containers delivered by the Maersk Saltoro, which are currently being held in the port of Nansha, China, will be destroyed as it was affected by logistical and quality problems. The process will begin this week, according to sources involved in the operation.
The task will be carried out by eight companies specialized in destroying perishable products. These companies have the necessary infrastructure and authorization to handle the disposal of the goods per China's sanitary regulations. The location of the destruction points has not been officially detailed.
The containers remain in custody at the port, where they have been inspected only by Chinese customs agents. No further personnel have been allowed access until the goods are moved to the designated destruction points. Industry sources confirmed that Chilean importers have requested to carry out independent inspections before the cargo is destroyed. "A Chilean company has asked us to inspect the 23 containers they exported on the Maersk Saltoro and to carry out the official survey for insurance purposes," stated a logistics operator involved.
The procedure will follow a strict protocol: once a container is released, it will be transported by truck to an assigned destruction center. There, company inspectors and insurance adjusters will be able to examine the cargo before disposal. The exact schedule of all the fruit's destruction is still uncertain, but sources indicate that the first units will start leaving the port in the next few days. "We are already being asked who the inspectors in charge of the review will be. The containers will probably start being released on Monday, March 10," the sources added.
The incident highlights the logistical and quality challenges that the industry faces in supplying Asian markets. Those involved continue to liaise with the Chinese authorities and companies responsible for the destruction to coordinate every step of the operation.
The Maersk Saltoro set sail from the port of San Antonio, Chile, on December 27, 2024, with 1,353 refrigerated containers of Chilean cherries, bound for Nansha, China. After a breakdown that left it adrift for 23 days, the ship arrived at its destination on February 17, 2025. Fifty-two days elapsed between the ship's departure and its arrival in China. After that, the containers were stranded for another 21 days waiting for decisions by the Chinese health agency.
Different factors play a role in insurance collection but, in general, the process can take between 30 and 90 days. In more complex situations, however, it could take up to six months or more. In this case, the 1,300 containers of cherries must be inspected and certified as a total loss before destruction. This could take days or weeks depending on the speed of the authorities and surveyors.
Source: mnews.com.ar