Fresh fruit exports exceeded US$ 7bn, a 14 per cent value increase on the previous season
The 2023/24 export season will be remembered as one of the best of recent years for the Chilean fruit sector. Between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024, the country exported 2.589mn tonnes of fresh fruit worth more than US$7bn. This marked a 7.1 per cent increase in volume and 14 per cent increase in value compared to the previous campaign.
Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile, commented: “We are setting records in volumes, but also in value. Today, without a doubt, we can say that our fruit is worth more thanks to the efforts of the industry to improve quality, safety, new varieties and sustainability”.
He said the strong results would drive further investment and growth, with exports projected to reach US4120bn by 2030.
Among the milestones achieved by the sector in 2023/24, Marambio highlighted the advancement of the Systems Approach for table grape exports; the opening of the Chinese market for peaches and apricots and the launch of the Frutas de Chile brand.
“Achieving the Systems Approach for shipments to the US of our fresh grapes from Atacama, Coquimbo and Valparaíso is perhaps one of the biggest events of the past season,” he said.
“It took more than 20 years of negotiations and public-private work. We have been preparing to begin the first shipments of fresh grapes under this system in December. Not only will we deliver fruit of better quality and condition to consumers, but also the costs for producers and exporters will be lower, we will improve our competitiveness in the main destination for Chilean grapes and we will advance one step further in sustainability.”
Shipments increased to all destination markets, Frutas de Chile said. Exports to the US was the leading destination for Chilean fruit, finished up almost 16 per cent on the previous year, while Europe also grew by 11 per cent, “which indicates that today there are opportunities to increase shipments and recover our share in the imported fresh fruit market”, Marambio said.
Exports to the US reached 846,801 tonnes; while shipments to Asian markets closed with 738,202 tonnes, an increase of 1 per cent on the previous year. Latin America, meanwhile, was in third place, with 513,351 tonnes (+1.4 per cent). Europe received 411,912 tonnes of fruit, the Middle East took 39,797 tonnes and Canada closed with 38,621 tonnes, an increase of 3 per cent on 2022/23.
By product, grapes were top with shipments of 528,863 tonnes, an increase of 6.6 per cent, on the previous campaign. Apples were second with 517,644 tonnes (+2.4 per cent), followed by cherries with 413,978 tonnes (+3.3 per cent). Plums were in fourth place with 170,314 tonnes, an increase of 24 per cent on 2022/23.
Looking ahead to 2024/25, Frutas de Chile said cherry exports are forecast to rise by 59 per cent, reaching a new record for the industry. In blueberries, Frutas de Chile plans to ship 135,501 tonnes (fresh and frozen), reflecting a growth of 3.2 per cent compared to the previous year. In addition, it estimates that shipments of new varieties will increase by 26 per cent to more than 16,000 tonnes.
“At Frutas de Chile we have worked hard to ensure that the 2024/25 season is successful. The quality of our fruit, together with strategic investments in the sector, will allow us to reach record figures that will highlight the contribution of fruit growing to our country,” Marambio said.
