According to a report delivered by Fedefruta, iQonsulting stated that they had observed a general recovery of apple exports in 2016. During 2016 exports recovered and, according to estimates, the official export volume will be around 740,000 tons, thanks to the return to normal volumes in the US and European supply, as well as the good demand there was in Latin America and Asia.
Regarding the export varieties, the Royal Gala variety continues to lead shipments with 49%, followed by the Red Delicious, which stopped decreasing and accounted for 16% of Chilean apple exports. There were no major variations in the Cripps Pink-PL and Granny Smith varieties when compared to 2015. Meanwhile, exports of the Fuji variety increased and are approaching the record levels achieved in 2007.
Latin American Outlook
By the end of 2015 Chilean apple exports fell by nearly 200,000 tons or -24.3%, going from 810,000 to 612,000 tons due to the high supply available in Europe and the US, and also because of the high exchange rate in Latin America, the main destination for Chilean apple.
In 2016, Latin America imported 297,000 tons, the second highest volume in history after the record achieved in 2014. Brazil, Colombia, and Peru were the main importers in this market. The European market, which only increased its imports by 5% and is still far from the export volumes it recorded in the last decade, was the second biggest destination for Chilean apples. Asia and the US ranked third and fourth with 102,000 and 100,000 tons, respectively.
Source: MundoMaritimo