Chilean blueberry exports to the US fell during the 2013/14 season, as last September’s freeze coupled with the port strike in January caused severe disruption to shipments at key points during the season. However, shipments to Europe and Asia rose considerably and prices in all markets were generally stronger than in 2012/13, according to the Chilean Blueberry Committee.
“Production forecasts were revised downwards by 10 per cent following the damage caused by the freeze,” said the committee’s Andrés Armstrong.
By 2 February, sendings to the US were down 34 per cent, reaching 34,200 tonnes compared with 51,900 tonnes in the year-earlier period. This was partly due to the port strike and also because a number of exporters decided to divert shipments to European and Asian markets in order to avoid the new fumigation procedures required for imports into the US.
Although results for the full season are not yet in, the latest figures show that exports to Europe to date are up 14 per cent on last season, while shipments to Asia are 30 per cent ahead of 2012/13 levels.
Up to week 3, the average price paid per carton was 34 per cent higher than in 2012/13, after which it fell slightly but was still 13 per cent higher than last season.
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