Chile fruit exports Valparaiso

The latest Chilean fresh fruit export statistics, released by the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (Asoex) and published by SimFRUIT, have revealed that the country's fresh fruit exports during 2011/12 jumped 0.14 per cent to 275.4m boxes.

Table grapes led the way in product terms, Asoex said, with 106m boxes shipped, although this was down 3.21 per cent on the previous year.

Red apples came in second with 36.7m boxes sent, down 12.3 per cent, followed by blueberries (+2.16 per cent to 23.4m boxes), kiwifruit (+11 per cent to 22.6m boxes) and cherries (+27 per cent to 14.6m boxes).

By market, East Asia showed the greatest growth, with a 20.75 per cent import rise on the 2010/11 season, up to 43.9m boxes of fresh fruit.

In terms of product destination, the US took on the greatest volume of table grapes at 33.3m boxes, while Latin America led the way in red apple imports at 11.3m boxes.

Asoex reported that blueberries were mainly shipped to the US, with some 11.6m boxes shipped, with Europe proving the leading market for kiwifruit at 11m boxes and East Asia taking on the greatest Chilean cherry volumes at 9.3m boxes.