Economic ties between China and Latin America are growing stronger, driven by major developments in air logistics. With a significant rise in agricultural and industrial imports, Chinese airlines are scaling up their operations to meet increasing demand, underscoring the strategic role of logistics in global trade.
A Decade of Chilean Imports
On November 20, 2024, China Eastern Air Logistics marked a milestone by transporting 76 tons of fresh cherries from Chile to Shanghai, celebrating a decade of importing Chilean goods. Since 2014, the airline has delivered over 50,000 tons of cherries, salmon, and blueberries, valued at more than $1 billion.
For the 2024-2025 season, China Eastern plans to import approximately 12,000 tons of Chilean cherries. This volume will be split between air freight (5,500 tons) and sea transport (6,500 tons), highlighting the importance of multimodal logistics in preserving the freshness of perishable goods.
Cainiao: A Logistics Bridge to Brazil
Cainiao, Alibaba’s logistics arm, is also strengthening Sino-Latin trade ties. With eight weekly cargo flights connecting China and Brazil, Cainiao transports over 800 tons of goods each week. These shipments include cross-border e-commerce parcels and B2B exports, reflecting the growing significance of e-commerce in international trade.
Trade on the Rise
According to Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, trade in goods between China and Latin America reached $427.4 billion in the first three quarters of 2024, a 7.7% increase from the previous year. Annual trade is expected to surpass $500 billion, highlighting the strong economic complementarity between the two regions.
Conclusion
Economic cooperation between China and Latin America is creating new opportunities for the logistics sector. Airlines like China Eastern and Cainiao are playing a pivotal role in this dynamic by ensuring fast and reliable solutions for trade exchanges. As these relationships continue to flourish, logistics will remain a critical pillar in supporting global economic growth.
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