Exports recovered to 437,339 tonnes just short of the record season in 1997-98 of 443,689t and some 12 per cent up on 2000-01.

Those lines which showed the biggest gains, according to figures released by the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association (CFFA) were apricots; up 102 per cent on last season, kiwifruit up 41.3 per cent, blueberries up 38.49 per cent, cherries up 19.6 per cent and clementines up 22.3 per cent.

The UK in particular performed very strongly on clems accounting for more than 90 per cent of total Chilean sendings to Europe with 7,117t.

The biggest volume line to Europe was apples which accounted for a 40 per cent share of total Chilean arrivals, although direct sendings of apples to the UK were down which accounted for the two per cent decline in overall exports to the country from Chile.

A return to form for the euro also helped the Chileans in Europe. However, a strong performance in the Old World did not come at the expense of other markets as the US clocked up record exports of 671,181 tonnes and Asia scored another record as exports to China made an impact and totals for the continent rose to 127,231t.

Overall, Chile's performance has been hailed as 'successful in terms of volume,' by the CFFA. And strides have been made in what was described as ' an adverse environment in general' to include new markets in Central America, China, India, Vietnam, Russia and increase sendings to established destinations such as Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, the US, Italy, Spain, Japan and Taiwan.

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