According to Jaime Bravo, from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (Odepa), nuts and dried fruit exports have continued to recover as the season progresses, showing a decrease of 6.9% in export volume in the first nine months of the year, compared with the same period of 2011.
Unshelled nuts are the main export product, accounting for about 40% of shipments, yet it still shows a decline of 30.7%, due to the downturn in the markets of Turkey and the UAE.
The professional from Odepa, notes that despite this, the increase in exports of other dried fruits has partially offset this decline. The exports of shelled nuts, which are mostly directed to Latin American and European markets, have experienced an increase of 22.1%. In turn shelled almond exports are showing a 4.6% growth in their shipments. Finally, shelled Hazelnut exports are advancing to settle in a place of prominence in the Chilean nuts and dried fruit exports, registering a 17.1% increase in the period.
Despite the fall in the volumes shipped, total exports of nuts hold their value, which
reflects an increase in export prices. Nut exports were valued at USD 205 million in the first nine months of the year.
Source: SimFRUIT / Odepa