(Yicai) Oct. 16 -- The first batch of exhibits for the eighth China International Import Expo recently arrived at the Port of Shanghai from Chancay Port in Peru.

The exhibits were unloaded from the COSCO Prince Rupert container ship, the government of Shanghai's Pudong New Area announced yesterday. The city's border inspection authorities are working with port units to open a green channel for the customs clearance of the CIIE exhibits to ensure their safe and timely entry into China, it added.

The exhibits, including pottery, alpaca wool products, and other featured handicrafts from South America, were loaded at the Chancay Port on Sept. 21 and arrived in Shanghai in just 23 days. Many of them will debut at the CIIE, which will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center Shanghai from Nov. 5 through 10.

The voyage was at least 10 days shorter than the usual time on the China-Peru shipping route before the Chancay Port became operational, said Zhou Yiwen, head of COSCO Shipping Lines' CIIE logistics operation team.

The Chancay Port, with a total investment of around USD3.6 billion, opened on Nov. 14 last year. Cargo ships en route to Asian ports no longer need to pass through the Panama Canal or stop in Mexico, cutting sea transportation time between China and Peru from between 35 and 40 days to 23 days and slashing logistics costs by more than 20 percent.

Chinese home appliances and auto brands have become an important driving force for economic growth in Peru since the opening of the Chancay Port. In addition, more and more Peruvian specialty agricultural products, including blueberries and avocados, have been entering China and other Asian countries via the port.

The Shanghai border inspection authorities have already checked more than 240 ships traveling between the Chancay Port and Shanghai, according to official figures.

Editor: Martin Kadiev