Chile: Fruit exports gain in quantity, but suffers in value
Chilean fruit exports suffered a higher increase of 4.3% in 2015, despite this good news was not reflected in the values obtained from them, which fell 2.8% compared to 2014.
In December 2015, fruit exports recovered from the fall of 2014, surpassing by 4.3% the exported last year and reaching 2,344,938 tons. Last year the same had a decline of 12.6%, according to a report by the Chilean Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA).
Shipments of fresh fruit, representing 97.2% of the total in terms of volume, accumulated a 3.7% advance, while exports of nuts 28.3%. Products that improved most were the nectarines volume (113%), plums (114%) and kiwifruit (79%).
However, in terms of value accumulated to November, it decreased by 2.8% over what was exported to November 2014, from US $ 4,230 million to US $ 4.021 million.
This decline in value is based first in a fall in export volumes of apples and avocados. The first was exported 24% less, due to lower production. In the case of avocados this decline is related to the variation that affects this fruit. “Associated with this are lower international prices of fruit, mainly kiwis, nectarines, peaches, plums, pears, tangerines, cherries, oranges and walnuts” added ODEPA.
However, “so far the 2015/16 season (August to November) have been exported nearly 53,000 tons of avocados, similar to the figure of the 2013/14 season, which could indicate that it would be a season high; however, is an early harvest compared to previous years,” said ODEPA in its report.
“The drought affected the production of this fruit, which will be in exports towards the end of the season. Associated with this are lower international prices of fruit, mainly kiwis, nectarines, peaches, plums, pears, tangerines, cherries, oranges and nuts, “says the agency.
Source: ODEPA
