The president of the Association of Chilean Fruit Exporters, Asoex, Ronald Bown, reported the completion of the Cherries exports, reaching 51,900 tonnes, 27.3% less compared to the previous season. This decrease in volume was due to spring's unfavourable weather conditions for pollination and fruit development.
In winter, the accumulation of cold hours was lower compared to last season, promoting an uneven sprouting. In blooming, there were several showers and low temperatures that affected the set. Other factors that affected production were the veraison and harvest rains, damaging both the quality and condition of the fruit. This sum of events caused delays in harvests and a lower volume, which was reflected in the weekly departures that began week 43.
In the case of the target markets, all posted declines in export volumes. The main export market was Asia with a 70.2% share; that is 16.7 percentage points below the 2011/12 season. An outstanding case was China, were exports accounted for 49.5% of all Chilean cherry exports to the world, 50.5% increase in volume over the 2011/12 season.
The volume loss was strongly felt by other markets. Shipments to US decreased by 48.4%, amounting to 8,000 tons. Europe imported 3,000 tonnes, 48.9% less than in 2011/12 and, in terms of share, had only 5.9%, the lowest numbers in the past nine seasons. Latin America has had a share of around 8% in recent seasons. Nearly 4,000 tonnes were sent this season, that is a fall of 30.1%.
The cherries are produced from the IV Region to the XI Region. Compared to 2011/12, all Regions recorded a fall in export volumes in 2012/13. The main exporting Region was the VI Region with 22,700 tonnes, 25.4% less than in the last season. Region VII followed with 22,000 tonnes (-26.1%). These two areas accounted for 86.2% of total exports. The Metropolitan Region, and Regions V and IX led the remaining 13.8%. The latter was the one that recorded the smallest decline, only 14.9% over last year. This is due in part because a large number of hectares are under a mesh (ceiling).
Compared to 2011/12, volume fell by 74.9% in Region VIII. This Region was severely affected by the rains in summer and a large number of orchards don't have protective screens (ceilings) to minimize damages. In Chile Chico (Region XI) volume fell significantly as a result of the climate. There was a -6 °C overnight frost at the end of winter that affected output because the trees' buds were swollen, and tips got burned, thus decreasing the number of flowers. Another factor that affected the production was the cold Spring, which affected pollination.
There is an increase, throughout the current season, in self-fertile varieties and high performance ones such as Lapins (+2.6%) and Santina (+18%). The Sweetheart variety fell 43.3% and the Bing variety still leads exports, accounting for 66% of shipments, a 34.4% drop in export volumes.
Maritime shipments recorded a turnout of 84%, of which 73% went to Asia, 14% to North America and 4% to Europe, a 31% fall compared to the previous period. Furthermore, air shipments completed 16% of total exports, and were recorded during the first weeks of the season taking advantage of early fruit demand and low supply available in the destinations. The highest air destination was Asia with 46% of the volume, followed by the USA, with 28%.
However, air shipments decreased by 15% compared to the previous season.
It should be noted that several shipments didn't arrive in good condition because of the climatic conditions that affected the central-southern area of the country, which meant fruits had to be repacked, generating losses.
168 companies exported cherries this season versus the 206 that did in 2011/12, that is to say 18.4% less.
Source: Latercera
