First estimate for the season points to a 4 per cent increase in shipments for 2024/25
Chile’s 2024/25 stonefruit export crop is expected to weigh in at nearly 38mn cartons (8.3kg), an increase of 4 per cent on the previous season. The preliminary forecast, released by the Chilean Stonefruit Committee, mark a new record for the sector.
In terms of FOB values, the committee estimates that shipments will exceed US$540mn, also equivalent to an increase of around 4 per cent on last season.
Nectarine exports are forecast to rise 22 per cent to 14.1mn cartons (8kg), making them the leading product by volume. White-fleshed nectarines will make up around 63 per cent of the total, with yellow-fleshed varieties accounting for the remaining 37 per cent.
Shipments of Japanese plums are expected to hit 13.5mn cartons (7kg), a decrease of 4 per cent on 2023/24. Red varieties will account for some 58 per cent of this, black varieties for 40 per cent and other varieties for the remainder.
Exports of European plums are forecast to reach 7.5mn cartons (9kg), a fall of 7 per cent on last year’s record volume of 8mn cartons. The committee’s executive director, Ignacio Caballero, said it was redoubling efforts to educate growers to understand that fruit that does not meet the minimum quality harms the market, so exports should tend to rise in the long term.
Finally, in peaches, exports are set to reach 2.9mn cartons (8kg), an increase of 4 per cent on 2023/24.
“This estimate – still a preliminary forecast – shows that the sector is working to promote growth not only in volumes, but also in the quality of the fruit, to stimulate greater consumption and better returns. All of this makes us foresee a new export record for our stone fruits,” Caballero said.
During the 2023/24 campaign, China received around 55 per cent of Chile’s nectarine exports and 63 per cent of its plums, while North America received around 50 per cent total peach exports.
“These markets will once again occupy an important place this season as a destination for our stonefruit, but the challenge will also be to promote new destinations such as Mexico and Brazil, which are large consumers of this fruit, for which the Committee is working on implementing communication campaigns that allow the qualities of Chilean varieties to be highlighted,” Caballero noted.
