Net returns for all Chilean cherry exports fell by 25 per cent during the 2010/11 period, according to figures from the Federation of Chilean Fruit Growers’ (Fedefruta) Research Department.
The decline was registered across all varieties of cherries, with average returns (between week 45 of 2010 and week 3 of 2011) decreasing from US$4.22 per kilogramme to US$3.37/kg, Fedefruta said.
Volume-wise, the association claims sendings in 2010/11 rose by 72.53 per cent from 6.7m cartons to 11.6m cartons on the back of expanding markets.
According to Fedefruta, exports to Asia increased by an impressive 87.04 per cent to 5.4m cartons; to the US by 88.83 per cent to 2.9m cartons; and to Europe by 23 per cent to 1.4m cartons.
Bing represented the bulk of the export crop, accounting for 9.7m cartons, up 65.94 per cent against the previous season.
Fedefruta claims the maximum price for Chilean cherries in 2010/11 reached US$4.24/kg, with the lowest level at US$2.61/kg.
