Chile: Exports of fresh fruit exceed 854,000 tons to date

The Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile AG (ASOEX) has recently presented the advance of fresh fruit exports so far in the 2017/18 fruit season. Thus, according to its president Ronald Bown, from September 1st to February 16th, Chile has sent 854,671 tons of fresh fruits to the world, a figure that turns out to be 5.35% less than the volumes sent to the same period last season.

Bown has clarified that the campaign is developing within the normal parameters of harvest and export and that the decrease in the volume of sales abroad would be explained by the high base of comparison with last season, product of the advance of almost three weeks of the harvests and shipments in the period 2016-2017.

It has been highlighted that the volume exported in this season 2017-2018, when compared to the same date with previous campaigns (2014-2015 and 2015-2016), turns out to be higher in the order of 10%

Also, the ASOEX representative has revealed the high volumes sent of fresh cherries to the world. “It highlights the increase in exports of cherries in more than 93%, in relation to the same date of the previous season. Although, even the process of marketing this fruit does not end, this will undoubtedly be a season of record volumes“, he pointed out.

Markets and fruits

In relation to destination markets, the United States leads shipments with 294,572 tons; and 34.4% of the total exported to date, with the main fruits: table grapes (127,585 tons); blueberries (55,940 tons); mandarins (27,434 tons) and avocados (24,142 tons)

In second place as destination is Asia with 241,511 tons. and a participation of 28.3% in the total of shipments. The main species are cherries (166,692 tons); plums (16,733 tons), table grapes (16,486 tons), nectarines (14,529 tons), blueberries (12,778 tons) and avocados (avocados) (12,512 tons).

“With an increase close to 38%, the Asian market has the highest increase in exports compared to last season, which responds to the increase in shipments of cherries, but also of blueberries by 3.2% , avocados in more than 9.6% and nectarines in 37.9%, whose entry into the Chinese market materialized during February of last year“, said Bown.

Latin America is in third place with 155,270 tons, and 18.2% of the total exported in fruits by Chile. Main species are apples (82,163 tons), avocados (13,372 tons) and pears (11,486 tons)

The European market is in fourth place with 143,467 tons, and the 16.8% share, avocados are the fruits with the highest volume exported to this market, amounting to 83,389 tons, followed by blueberries (23,494 tons) and table grapes (8,676 tons).

On the other hand, Canada and the Middle East registered shipments of 16,360 tons and 3,491 tons, respectively. The main fruits exported to Canada are table grapes (6,595 tons) and blueberries (3,443 tons). In the Middle East, pears stand out (1,719 tons), and apples (579 tons).

China, main destination of nectarine exports to Asia

Exports of nectarines to date reach 46,818 tons, sent to different destinations, with Asia being one of the most important, where China has received 12,513 tons.

“We knew that the opening of the Chinese market for Chilean nectarines was key and highly anticipated by the industry, and that is why we actively participate in each negotiation together with the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG) and the Chinese phytosanitary organism, known as AQSIQ . Today the figures are confirming this, because last season to the same date the shipments reached 819 tons and today more than 12,000 tons have been sent”, said the ASOEX official.

Currently, 86.1% of nectarine exports to Asia have been destined for the Chinese market, with the main varieties Bright Pearl and Magique, both white pulp and Venus yellow pulp

“Today our efforts in China, regarding the entry of new products, are focused on the pears, for which we are working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, to achieve the quickest opening of this important market,” said Bown.

Source: ASOEX

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