The main terminal of Chile's port of Valparaiso has recorded a 16% year-on-year rise in fruit shipments for the 2011-12 export season.

Data released by the Valparaiso Pacific South Terminal (TPS) shows 695,271 metric tons (MT) of fruit was shipped between November and March, which is a peak export period for crops such as grapes, blueberries, apples, cherries and avocados.

While the season started slowly due to weather and exchange rate issue, shipment rates rebounded to the stage where they were up 30% year-on-year in February.

"This has been a very intense season, in which in addition to the increase in fruit, we have registered a strong rise in general cargo movement of containers," said TPS general manager Francesco Schiaffino.

"Between November 2011 and March this year at TPS we registered a 15% rise in the arrival of ships that carried fruit, and an average of more than 1,000 trucks circulating daily in the port terminal, as well as posting a record in container transfers in March.

"With a record of growth, we could give prompt attention to all the ships, without congestion or waiting of any kind."

The U.S. and Europe accounted for 70% of grape shipments from TPS, while apples were also one of the most-exported fruits to Europe.

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