To mark the first shipment of table grapes and other species to the United States from the port of Coquimbo, the president of Chile's Fruit Exporters Association, AG (ASOEX), Ronald Bown, spoke about the expectations for the 2013/2014 fruit season.
He noted that, according to the results of a survey conducted in November in Coquimbo, there would be a 10 to 12% decline in fresh fruit exports this season due to the drought that has affected this region in recent years.
Overall, the decline in exports of fresh fruit at the country level is estimated to be between 13.5% and 16.6% this season. This decline would represent approximately 600 to 900 million FOB only for the fruit sold abroad.
These declines have a negative impact on service and input providers, which will have fewer sales, as well as in the recruitment of temporary labour, which, according to ASOEX's survey, would be 19% lower; especially in the country's central regions where several fruit plants were shut down, restructured their logistics or occupied only a few facilities to save costs. Taking the surveys margin of error into consideration, this situation could affect approximately 60,000 temporary workers.
Source: ASOEX