Heavy rainfall has led to severe flooding in parts of central and southern Chile, although it is too soon to know how it will affect stored Chilean grapes for export, according to one UK importer.
Meanwhile, a report by the USDA into Chilean topfruit has forecast higher apple export volumes for 2008 following lower production in Europe and the US. Exports are predicted to hit 790,000 tonnes, up from 770,000 tonnes in 2006/07, with pear exports expected to reach 127,000 tonnes from 121,000 tonnes last year.
