Chilean food exports to China last year increased 35 per cent year on year to reach a value of US$438m, according the figures from the Chilean government.
This increase highlights Chile’s role as a major supplier of fruit to the Asian nation. According to trade promotion organisation ProChile, in 2011 some 75 percent of China's total cherry imports originated in Chile. Meanwhile Chilean produce accounted for 71 per cent of Chinese plum imports, 58 per cent of grape imports and 54 per cent of apple imports.
China overtook the US to become Chile's largest trading partner in 2009, according to a report by the China Daily, and bilateral trade between the countries increased in 2011 to US$29bn from US$24.7bn in the preceding year.
Trade between China and Chile during the first half of the year, increased 14.8 per cent year-on-year to US$14.7bn, the China Daily reported.
