Chile's Federation of Fruit Producers (Fedefruta) stated that, after the significant decline recorded in 2013, due to the strong frosts, stone fruit production was having higher export volumes this year.
According to the director of Fedefruta, Cristian Allendes, by the end of February, exports of plums amounted to 5.9 million boxes, i.e. 88% more than in 2014.
Meanwhile, nectarines shipments totalled 5.8 million boxes, 121% more than in the previous year. Peaches exports increased by 67% and amounted to 2.2 million cases.
However, Allendes warned, the figures are 10% lower, in the case of peaches and nectarines, and 20% lower, in the case of plums, than the forecasts made at the beginning of the current season.
The differences, he said, were due to the rains and cold weather in spring that favour a good pollination, as well as a cold winter that affected the proper development of the fruit.
He said that they had had some problems with the fruits' condition upon arrival to some markets because of the wet spring. In that regard, he said, some of the major conflicts for nectarines occurred in the Middle East, China and Taiwan, where one million cases were returned as their entry wasn't authorized.
Regarding income, the director of FEDEFRUTA noted that the prices obtained by the stone fruits tended to decrease when compared to 2014 and that this could be due to the higher volumes after the frost of 2013 and an oversupply of the competition.
"Additionally, prices in the United States, where Chile sends 40% of its peaches and nectarines, have decreased because of one of the harshest winters in decades, which has discouraged consumers from purchasing fruits or even going to the supermarkets," he said.
Source: MarcoTradeNews