Southern Hemisphere kiwifruit exports are forecast to fall by 7 per cent in 2012 due to the effects of the Psa-V vine disease in New Zealand.
According to horticultural research company iQonsulting, a combined total of 510,160 tonnes of the fruit will be shipped from New Zealand and Chile. It is expected Chile will see a 7 per cent rise on last year’s sendings to increase to a total of 193,180 tonnes for the year, Fresh Fruit Portal.com reported.
iQonsulting estimates New Zealand, however, will ship just 307,980 tonnes, which is a 14 per cent drop on last year’s exports. The company puts this down to the effects of the vine disease Psa-V, which has heavily impacted plantings of the gold kiwifruit variety. It is predicted gold exports will fall by as much as 45 per cent.
Exports of the green variety, which has been less affected by the disease, are expected to drop by just 5 per cent on last year.
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