Chile wants to boost its presence in Asian markets, especially regarding its fresh fruit. As such, a Chilean public-private delegation arrived South Korea to start talks to open up this market to Chilean avocados, and to analyze other issues of bilateral interest.
The meeting was held on 6 April in Incheon, South Korea, at the annual meeting of the FAO International Convention on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM). The meeting was attended by: Rodrigo Astete, Chief of the Division of Agricultural and Forestry Protection of the SAG; Marco Muñoz, Head of the Department of Plant Protection at SAG; Patricio Parraguez, Chilean Trade Aggregate in South Korea and Miguel Canala-Echeverría, General Manager of the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile, AG (ASOEX); and Lee Hyok-in, the Deputy Director of the Management Division of Exports from the Department of Plant Quarantine of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA) of South Korea, and Min Joo-Seok, Director of International Cooperation of the Export Management Division of the Department of Plant Quarantine of the QIA.
The main topics discussed and analyzed during the meeting were the access of Chilean avocados to Korea, the access of national pomegranates for industrial use, the modalities of exporting Chilean products, the updating of the current protocols to export Chilean fruit to the Korean market, and Korea's interest in exporting some products to Chile.
The QIA indicated that it had received the application for the opening of this market to avocados, as well as all of the product's necessary technical background. As such, the opening process for this product is in its first stage, in a negotiation that has a total of eight steps, which would take about three years to conclude. This process could be shorter considering that the fruit isn't produced locally and that the country authorized the entry of avocados from Mexico in 2016 and that it has been negotiating the entry of this same fruit with Peru since 2013.
Regarding the products that Korea is interested in sending to Chile, the QIA expressed interest in initiating a Pest Risk Analysis (ARP) process for the entry of strawberries, mandarins, persimmon, and chestnuts. The parties agreed that Korea would send a priority list and the productive and sanitary precedents of each product.
Chilean exports
"The Asian market is the second biggest destination market for Chilean fresh fruits. During the 2015-2016 season, we exported more than 482 thousand tons of fruit. Korea is our third destination. This is an important market, with a high consumption of fruits and, therefore, with great opportunities for our exports. Especially now, that both Governments have agreed to update the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which will be an opportunity to address the high tariffs for citrus and to support actions aimed at materializing the entry of avocados," stated Miguel Canala-Echeverria.
According to Asoex, during 2015-2016, the Far East was the second biggest destination for Chilean fresh fruit in general, as Chile shipped 482,461 tons to these area in that campaign, i.e. 10.9% increase. Chilean exports to the Asian markets have grown steadily in the last 10 years. China (including Hong Kong) accounted for 59% of the total shipments to Asia, followed by Taiwan with 14%, South Korea with 9%, and India with 7%.
Source: SimFRUIT