Chilean grapes put in strong performance in 2023/24

Chile exported 64m cartons of table grapes worth more than US$1bn FOB in 2023/24, representing a 7 per cent increase in volume and 13 per cent increase in volume compared to the year-earlier period. The improved results came in spite of the drop in production caused by climatic issues.

Expressing his satisfaction with the results, Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile said they reflected ongoing improvements in quality within the sector. “This season we also saw an increase in the production and export of new varieties, which accounted for 62 per cent of total shipments or 39m cartons,” he said.

Marambio noted that the strategy of the recently created Table Grape Committee to improve the sector’s competitiveness, particularly in its main export market, the US, were paying off. “All of this was also enhanced by the drop in supply from California and Peru, due to adverse weather conditions that hit them harder than our country,” he said.

Two other variables help lift Chile’s results, Marambio said: firstly improved logistics, and secondly stable pricing in the US market, despite the greater supply that arrived from Chile from week 14 onwards.

Isabel Quiroz, executive director of iQonsulting, explained that although Chile’s varietal renewal had been slower than that of Peru’s and South Africa’s, the transition was now starting to bear fruit.

“It has been understood that there is no room for mediocre fruit, and that the table grape industry continues to be an attractive one as long as one is willing to compete in the big leagues,” she said.

The main new Chilean grape varieties are Sweet Globe (white seedless) with a share of 12 per cent, Allison (red seedless) with 11 per cent and Sweet Celebration (red seedless) with 10 per cent. The varieties that have shown exponential growth this last season were Sweet Globe, Autumn Crisp and Sweet Flavor, while Timco and Cotton Candy have decreased their participation.

The improved table grape season helped lift overall fresh fruit exports to a new record in the first half of 2024. According to customs data, analysed by ProChile, shipments topped US$7bn between January and July, representing an increase of 9 per cent on the year-earlier period.

“Chilean fruits have earned a space in the world for their quality, safety and flavour, and have boosted the entire agricultural sector,” said ProChile’s national director Lorena Sepúlveda.