Company reports brisk movement in US market and high prices in Europe
Chile’s Subsole has carried out its first table grape exports to the US under the new systems approach. The company’s commercial manager, Andro Vidal, said the first shipments was due to arrive to the US East Coast on 16 December. He said the new protocol was “great news and a huge step forward for the Chilean industry”.
In its latest table grape seasonal report for week 50, Subsole said: “Harvests have started later than usual in Copiapo Valley (week 47) and shipments started in week 48 (as opposed to last season when shipments started in week 45). Varieties like Prime Seedless, Sweet Globe and Flame Seedless are the first being shipped to different markets.
Subsole said production has been good in the Copiapo Valley, with high volumes across all varieties. Peak volume will heavily concentrated between 15 December and 30 January.
“We are currently harvesting Prime Seedless and about to start with Timpson and Sweet Globe for greens, Ralli Seedless for reds and starting harvests of Midnight Beauty and soon to start with Melody for blacks,” Subsole noted.
Harvests in the IV Region are due to start in week 51. From Aconcagua to southern areas, harvests are expected to maintain a normal pattern, except some particular Aconcagua Valley cases where fruit is expected seven days earlier than normal, meaning that fruit from this valley will be available from week 2.
“Productivity in the Central valleys is looking more limited than usual in traditional varieties. High vigour in parrones has made managing the plants vigour to support production a challenge this year,” the report continued.
Chile’s table grape crop is expected to weigh in at around 65mn cartons for 2024/25, according to the latest estimate from Frutas de Chile.
Subsole highlighted that green seedless volumes are higher than in red seedless this season due to the rapid growth in Sweet Globe and Autumncrisp production.
The company said the first breakbulk vessel to the US East Coast is expected in week 51, arriving on 4 January, while the first one to the West Coast is expected in week 52.
Subsole reported a brisk sales in the US, noting: “The market is moving steadily. With the American market already finishing sales for existing red varieties, and without green varieties in stock for California fruit. By the end of the season California will have harvested between 80-85mn cartons, a drop from its initial estimate of over 90mn cartons. Peruvian fruit has already arrived and volumes are higher than last season”
The company said it was monitoring the situation in the US closely due to the high risk of a strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association on the East Coast.
In Europe, meanwhile, Subsole noted that an undersupplied market and the late arrival of the new South African crop had resulted in unusually high prices.
