Figures for July from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (Odepa) show that 95% of the Chilean nut harvest is already sold to different countries around the world, with 5,000 tonnes of the shelled walnut remaining to be placed on the market.
Returns to the end of July for nuts in all their presentations have been US $279 million, which implies a recovery of 103% compared to the figures for July 2016 that were altered by the heavy rains in April.
Even so, expectations are prudent given the weakening dollar which is affecting the entire fruit export sector.
The Middle East and Africa bloc has received 59% of exports this year, growing in shipments by 49% compared to last year; Turkey and United Arab Emirates maintain this bloc's first places.
Shipments to the United States have also grown significantly this year, from 19 tons in 2017 to 356 tons as of this year 2017. In South America the main destination remains Brazil, while in Europe, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and France remain in the top positions; where all of them have increased their imports in relation to 2017.
In Asia, where there has been a focus over the last five years, Korea is the main market, although India is coming on strongly this year with an over 1000% increase over the previous period. "Our fundamental task for the future is to consolidate Chile's position in all these new Asian markets, such as Korea, China and India," says Andrés Rodríguez, executive director of the Chilean Walnut Commission.
Chile is the number 1 exporter of walnuts in the southern hemisphere and the second one worldwide, behind the United States. Our shipments will be around US $ 400 million in 2017.