Kiwifruit exports from Chile are forecast to fall by 8-10 per cent in 2013, down from 207,000 tonnes last year.
Production of Hayward is down slightly, according to the Chilean Kiwifruit Committee, due to inclement weather conditions and not the impact of the vine disease Psa which is affecting orchards in the south of Chile.
On the upside, the committee’s new president Carlos Cruzat said the smaller Southern Hemisphere kiwifruit crops from Chile and New Zealand will boost market prices this season.
“Italy has less fruit and New Zealand is offering the same volume of Green kiwifruit and half of its Gold output, due primarily to Psa,” he told Americafruit, Asiafruit and Eurofruit.
“Stocks are down and there will be less fruit for the market,” Cruzat explained. “There should be a good entry for Chile. The fruit looks good too. It seems like it will be a normal to good season.”
Early kiwifruit from Chile is expected to head to markets such as Latin America, Russia, the US and Asia, according to Cruzat, where stocks are low and fruit will be in demand from the South Hemisphere.
In the European Union, meanwhile, Cruzat believes Chile will arrive later on the market given that Italian kiwifruit stocks will remain until the end of May.
“Despite the economic situation in Europe, volume to Europe should be stable, while the US will either receive similar or slightly less than last year,” Cruzat noted.
“Growth will come for markets such as China, Korea and Russia, and, to a lesser extent, the Middle East and Latin America.”
The full report will be published in the April issue of Asiafruit and Eurofruit and the April/May issue of Americafruit.
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