Delaware-Chile trade relationship stays strong

    (photo courtesy of Diamond State Port Corporation)

    (photo courtesy of Diamond State Port Corporation)

    The Port of Wilmington renewed an agreement with Trans Global Shipping for another five years to continue as the company’s Mid-Atlantic distribution hub for Chilean fruit.

    “We are ever grateful to our Chilean partners for their faith in Delaware and its port, and their willingness to continue this valuable trade relationship that has produced substantial benefits for everyone involved,” said Delaware’s Governor Jack Markell.

    According to a press release, the port handled over 18,650,000 boxes of Chilean fruit in the 2014-15 season – a 10% increase over the previous season.

    The port also supports over 900 jobs generating $50 million annually in personal income, $54 million in business revenue and $5 million in state tax revenue.

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    The agreement commits Trans Global Shipping to use the Port of Wilmington for another five years and includes ongoing 2-year lease renewal options that effectively establish future service at the port.

    “Delaware’s trade relationship with Chile goes back almost forty years, even before the current contract was in place,” added Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, the Chairman of the Diamond State Port Corporation. “As we develop plans for how to expand and grow our Port in the future, the Chilean fruit business will be a cornerstone of that effort.”

    The Port of Wilmington was founded in 1923 and, located on the Delaware River, operates as a full service Mid-Atlantic seaport with overnight access to 200 million consumers throughout Canada and the eastern region of the United States.

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