Chilean citrus exports are estimated to increase by 10 per cent this year to 167,944 tonnes, according to the Chilean Citrus Committee, up from 159,581 tonnes in 2011.
The committee told Fruitnet it is expecting the biggest growth in volume to come in the mandarin category, which is tipped to rise by 35 per cent to 19,306 tonnes.
Chile’s biggest citrus category, navels, is forecast to register a 10 per cent increase in sendings to 69,208 tonnes.
Clementines, meanwhile, will remain the third-largest category with shipments due to rise by 7 per cent to 34,480 tonnes.
Conversely, the committee revealed that Chilean lemon exports are on course to decline by 2 per cent to 44,949 tonnes.
The volume increase comes on the back of the planting of citrus groves with new varieties, which are entering commercial bearing.
Indeed, this season, the committee said Chile is producing new varieties of clementines and mandarins, which are characterised by their excellent quality and small number of seeds.
After the US, which represents 70 per cent of Chile’s citrus exports, the biggest markets for Chilean citrus are Asia, Japan and Europe.
