On the 10th, after unloading 1,936 tons of imported citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, and lemons, the Bahamian cargo ship “Opal Crown” slowly departed from Shanghai South Port Terminal. This marks the first chartered vessel carrying South African citrus fruits to arrive in Shanghai this year.
The Yangshan Border Inspection Station and other port inspection authorities opened a green channel to facilitate the efficient unloading and transfer of fresh fruits, ensuring a smooth first leg of the journey to market.
South African citrus fruits being loaded onto trucks. (Photo provided by Yangshan Border Inspection Station)
In recent years, with the development of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, an increasing number of African fruits have crossed oceans to reach Chinese dining tables. South Africa is the world’s second-largest citrus exporter after Spain. May to September is the ripening season for South African citrus fruits, coinciding with a gap in China’s domestic citrus market. South African citrus helps fill this void.
According to the Yangshan Border Inspection Station, the “Opal Crown” cargo ship arrived at Shanghai South Port Terminal after a 26-day voyage from Durban Port, South Africa, departing on June 14. The entire shipment was transported under refrigeration, maintaining the fruit at 0 degrees Celsius to ensure freshness during transit.
The hot weather posed higher demands for unloading and customs clearance efficiency. To ensure the smooth entry and transfer of these fresh fruits, the Yangshan Border Inspection Station staff processed pre-inspection procedures for the vessel in advance through the “International Trade Single Window” platform before its arrival. This allowed unloading operations to begin immediately upon docking. Additionally, they issued permits for personnel to board and disembark the vessel ahead of time and implemented round-the-clock monitoring of the terminal, creating conditions for uninterrupted unloading. The entire operation was completed in less than 24 hours.
According to the shipping agent, another vessel carrying South African citrus fruits is expected to arrive in late July or early August. (End)
