Ronald Bown, president of the Fruit Exporters Association of Chile AG (Asoex) said it was premature to talk about what immediate effects the exit of the UK from the European Union would have on Chilean fruit exports. However, he said, they were monitoring the situation.
Bown said the measure taken by the United Kingdom should be less traumatic for fruit exporters than for the financial markets. "The UK has a period of two years to leave the EU. That's enough time for the Direcon to carry out the relevant negotiations so that exporters achieve having the same conditions that they currently have in that target market," Bown stated.
He also said that, if they didn't achieve an FTA with the United Kingdom to replace the one they currently have with the EU, exports to that market would obviously lose competitiveness.
As such, he said, the Association is monitoring the fall of the British pound. Last night, the currency fell by 8.2%. If this drop is permanent, Chilean exports of goods to the UK would experience a similar loss of competitiveness, as the Chilean fruit is more expensive in the local currency.
Data
According to data from Asoex, Chilean exports approximately 600,000 tons of fresh fruit to Europe, including Britain, per year. Additionally, Chile exports approximately 100,000 tons of fruits to the United Kingdom every year. England is the second destination for Chilean exports of fruits within Europe.
The main Chilean fruit exports to this market are: table grapes, apples, blueberries, kiwis, and avocados.
Source: asoex.cl