South America’s leading fruit supplier Chile is this year set to maintain a similar apple and pear output in comparison to 2011.
Although it is still too early to determine a precise forecast, local analyst Decofrut told Fruitnet it expects a similar or slightly larger apple export crop and a 2 per cent increase in pear volume.
Chile exported 794,452 tonnes of apples to international markets in 2011, down 6 per cent on the previous year when 848,014 tonnes were shipped globally, according to data from Expordata-Asoex.
After Latin America, Europe was the second-largest market for Chilean apples last year, representing a 29 per cent share of the total or 229,534 tonnes.
The Middle East took a further 15 per cent share or 118,095 tonnes, while other markets comprised Asia (13 per cent), the US (11 per cent) and Canada (2 per cent).
In the pear category, last year Chile distributed 131,679 tonnes worldwide, registering a 15 per cent growth on 2010, according to Expordata-Asoex data.
Latin America and Europe jointly ranked as the leading market, accounting for 41 per cent of the total or 54,461 tonnes and 53,577 tonnes respectively.
Other markets included the US (with a 14 per cent share) and the Middle East (4 per cent).
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