The ship carries more than 20,000 tons of Peruvian fruits such as blueberries, avocados, grapes and mangoes.

The first direct shipment of Peruvian products sent from the recently inaugurated port of Chancay will arrive this Wednesday in the eastern Chinese megalopolis of Shanghai, reports the official newspaper Global Times.

The ship is carrying more than 20,000 tons of Peruvian fruit such as blueberries, avocados, grapes and mangoes. It completed the preliminary declarations for customs yesterday, and will arrive at the port of Yangshan today.

The port of Chancay, located about 70 kilometers from Lima, was inaugurated on November 14 after an initial investment of about US$ 1.3 billion.

By reducing maritime transport time between Peru and China to 23 days and saving 20% of logistics costs, Chancay seeks to become the bridge that links China with Latin America on a commercial level.

Forecasts cited by the Global Times suggest the new port will generate around US$4.5 billion in annual revenue for Peru and create more than 8,000 jobs.

The complex is 60% owned by the Chinese state-owned shipping company Cosco Shipping and the remaining 40% by the Peruvian mining company Volcán Compañía Minera, the fourth largest producer of silver and zinc in the world.