Chile exported a record volume of fresh fruit during the 2009/10 season and with weather conditions proving favourable in the country’s early growing regions the scene is being set for another solid year in 2010/11.
Exports reached a new high of 2,466,824 tonnes in 2009/10, up 3 per cent on the previous season and beating (by 60,000 tonnes) the previous export record set in 2006/07, according to a press release from the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA).
The bare statistics do not tell the whole story of the season, however, which was badly disrupted by a devastating 8.8 magnitude earthquake on 27 February 2010.
But CFFA said the fact that 2.46m tonnes of fruit left the country despite the damage inflicted by the country’s worst natural disaster for decades was a “major triumph” for the fruit industry.
The main drivers behind the growth in exports were the large increases in shipments of apples, avocados and, to a lesser extent, oranges, lemons and blueberries.
The apple category overtook table grapes as the leading export item in volume terms during 2009/10, although only by less than 1,000 tonnes, according to CFFA.
Within the category, sendings of red and bi-coloured varieties rose by 17 per cent rise to 676,233 tonnes, while green strains grew by 4 per cent to 123,661 tonnes.
Table grapes, which like apples represent 32 per cent of the overall volume of fresh fruit exported from Chile, declined slightly year-on-year, as the earthquake and climatic factors hit at a key point in the season.
International customers received 798,928 tonnes of Chilean table grape varieties in 2009/10, a 6 per cent drop on 2008/09 figures.
With a season which started after the worst of the earthquake disruption, CFFA said the avocado sector registered a upturn in exports of 33 per cent year-on-year, to 153,976 tonnes following an off year.
Avocados now represent Chile’s fourth-largest export crop, with 6 per cent of the export share in volume terms.
And the citrus sector also performed strongly, according to the association, with lemon exports up 64 per cent to 50,302 tonnes and orange sendings rising 16 per cent to 47,619 tonnes.
The blueberry sector, whose volume is rising rapidly due to heavy plantings in the last few years, did not reach the levels anticipated at the beginning of the season.
But a 20 per cent increase in exports, to 49,893 tonnes, pushed its share of the market to 2 per cent, CFFA said.
The stonefruit season was initially affected by inclement weather and also, towards the end, the earthquake, leading to an eventual 23 per cent drop in plum sendings, a 5 per cent fall in nectarines and a 19 per cent decrease in peach exports.
Overall, CFFA said Chilean fruit exports to the European market were 4 per cent lower last season, and the continent’s share of overall Chilean fresh fruit exports dropped to 29 per cent; second behind the US/Canada, which took 38 per cent of Chile’s export crop.
The Middle East (which absorbed 6 per cent of the export volume) and Asia (11 per cent) both slightly increased their share, while Latin America remained stable at 17 per cent.
The most significant additional sendings to Europe in 2009/10 were a 76 per cent rise in avocado exports and a 36 per cent hike in blueberry shipments.
Forecasts for 2010/11
Looking ahead to the 2010/11 season, information specialist Decofrut reports that, to date, the weather conditions across the earlier growing regions in the north of Chile have proved favourable for most of the main fruit crops.
However, Decofrut said there have been some frost spells, which affected the tail-end of both citrus and avocado production although by the end of their seasons exports were not significantly reduced.
The latest global volume export estimates for the major fruit crops are as follows although final figures could vary:
Blueberry exports in 2010/11 are anticipated to rise by 15 per cent due to new plantations and stabilisation of yield rates.
Cherry volume has risen significantly to date, reaching 56,074 tonnes so far this season, compared with 33,379 tonnes registered during the same period in 2009/10.
Table grapes are on course for a 6 per cent growth in sendings in 2010/11.
Apple shipments are forecast to rise by 2 per cent, with growth mainly coming from Gala and Pink Lady/Cripps Pink crops.
Plum output is estimated to increase by 17 per cent, while kiwifruit volume is predicted to grow by 5 per cent.
