The Fruit Exporters Association of Chile AG, ASOEX, and the Committee of Cherries were satisfied with the record of shipments reached during the current season of Chilean cherry exports 2014-2015, and expectations are the campaign will end with exports of about 100,000 tons.
In this regard, Ronald Bown, president of ASOEX, said: "We are pleased with this new achievement for the Chilean fruit industry export, it shows the great work that producers and exporters of cherries have made to achieve significant volumes maintaining high standards of quality and safety."
Bown said Chile had exported more than 21 million boxes, which amounts to more than 99,000 tons, to different target markets in the first five weeks of 2015, i.e. 45% more than in the same period last season.
In terms of target markets, Asia ranks first with an 82.7% share of the total export volume. China is the most important market in Asia as it received 96% of the total volume shipped to Asia.
United States ranks second as a destination with an 8.6% share of total exports. Latin America has 4.7% of the market share, Europe 3.7% and other markets 0.3%.
"This has been a very challenging season because of the large volume of cherries there was and the weather conditions during the campaign (December 2014) made the industry pay more attention to quality care after the rains ensuring a consistent product at destination," said Cristian Tagle, chairman of ASOEX's Cherries.
Price and the Chinese New Year
Regarding prices, the large volume reached this campaign has placed great pressure on the market in China. However, Tagle said, the sector has been favoured by a good exchange rate. "The dollar has gone up significantly and this has helped. Prices have fallen, but the values in China generally remain higher than in other markets."
Meanwhile, nearly a week before the celebration of the Chinese New Year, the Committee is expectant and positive about the results. "We have a lot of expectations. There are still many containers that haven't been sold, the season in China hasn't finished, as there still are nearly two weeks of important sales, so we have to see how these develop," said the chairman.
Tagle said the growth in export volumes to China is a trend that has increased during the past six years. "Before cherry exports to the different target markets were more even," he said.
As for the end results of the general cherry export campaign, the manager of the Committee stated: "The volumes of cherries shipped to date might increase marginally, because there still is some fruit in southern Chile that needs to be exported, so total shipments might be higher than 100,000 tons. So far we have exported about 95% of the export season. "
"The growth our industry has had, as well as the development of new packaging lines, new gardens and new varieties, are remarkable. It demonstrates the sector's courage and commitment. Currently, estimates are there are 18,000 hectares planted with cherries, and if we go back to 2008 we only had 13,000 hectares. There has been a 40% increase in area that means we'll have the potential to export 30 million cases and 150,000 tons of cherries within 4 or 5 years. This fact, in turn, poses a great challenge for us in relation to placing the fruit in the markets, and that is what we are committed to nowadays," concluded Cristian Tagle.