Fruit exports in the 2015-2016 season (which went from August 2015 to September 2016) increased by almost 6%, as 2.485 million tons were shipped abroad.
"This is the sector's second consecutive increase in exports. We still haven't achieved the 2,654 million tons record achieved during the 2012-2013 season because, after this, Chile was affected by the worst frost in 60 years and, later on, by a flood which affected the northern part of the country in March 2015," said Ronald Bown, president of the Fruit Exporters Association of Chile AG (Asoex).
Apples and grapes lead exports
In the season that just ended, apples regained their first position as Chile's main exported fruit with 728,177 tons, i.e. 14% more than in the previous year. Meanwhile, table grapes ranked second with 687,802 tons and a decline of 9% over the 2014-2015 period.
Both species account for 57% of the total export volume; followed by kiwis, with 185,271 tons and an 11% increase; pears, with 126,355 tons and a 6% drop, and avocados, with 119,887 tons and an 76% increase over the previous year.
Table grapes exports ranked first in value, as exports amounted to 1,326 million dollars. Thus, table grape exports accounted for 28% of total exports in volume and value. Despite having the highest volume of shipments, apple exports ranked second in terms of value with 13% of the total, followed by cherries, which also had 13% (although only 3% by volume) and blueberries with 12% of the total value (4% by volume).
Avocados had the biggest growth in value, as their sales increased by 177% and had an additional $118 million dollars in value, caused by an increased volume, as their average price remained the same.
Countries leading shipments
The five destination regions for Chilean fruit showed growth, and only the Far East has had an increase higher than 10% for more than a decade.
The North american market, including Canada, accounted for 34% of exports; Europe,22%; Latin America, 21%; the Far East, 19%, and the Middle East, 4%.
Six countries concentrated two-thirds of exports. This list was led by the United States (32% of shipments), China (11%), the Netherlands (9%), Brazil (6%) and Colombia and England (4% each).
"Within these six countries, Brazil registered the highest growth in shipments with 39%. In this regard, it is important to note that the Brazilian market, despite its economic problems, has grown 59% in the past four seasons, mainly due to shipments of apples, which in the same period have quadrupled and account for 50% of Brazilian fresh fruit imports," said Bown.
Fruits preferred by region:
The US and Canada: Table grapes with 39% of total Chilean exports, followed by apples with 13%, and oranges and blueberries with 8%
Europe: apples (27% of the total), table grapes (20%), avocados (15%), kiwis (12%) and pears (10%).
Latin America: the main fruit sent to this region was apples, which account for 56% of the total, followed by pears and table grapes with 10%, respectively. Kiwis follow with 9% and plums with 5%.
The Far East: these area mainly imports table grapes, apples, cherries, kiwis, and plums from Chile.
Middle East: Apples account for more than 70% of shipments.
Fruit origins
During the 2015-2016 season, the region of O'Higgins ranked first in fruit exports with 952,777 tons and 38% of total exports, which means they had a 10% growth in exports.
It was followed by the Region of Maule with 23% of the total, the Region of Valparaiso with 11%, and the Region of Coquimbo with 9%.
"The Region of Coquimbo had the highest growth, with 35%, mainly due to the recovery of table grapes, avocados, and citrus, as a result of increased availability of water for irrigation," said Bown.
More than half of the kiwis, pears, plums, cherries, nectarines and peaches that were exported came from the Region of O'Higgins while the Region of Maule accounts for 53% of the apples exported, and the Region of Valparaiso for 53% of the avocados exported.
Source: diariopyme.com