Chilean and Peruvian cherries, blueberries and table grapes have done well in key markets of China, the US and Europe during January 2023. The Chinese Golden week during week 4 was indeed golden for the Chilean cherry industry with a record 415 289 tons equivalent to over 82 million boxes delivered during January 2023.
According to market specialists iQonsulting, Isabel Quiroz and colleague Camila Miranda after the Chinese New Year, the market is usually slow due to the 2 week holiday and travel period, but some activity has already started in the middle of last week. “With very little cherry’s still to export we are going to reach almost 84 million boxes of cherries, a new record.”
Cherries
Until week 3 just before the Chinese New Year they imported 87.7% of the Chilean cherry crop. In the US the price was in the $4.53 kg range of between $14-$30 dollars per box ranging from large, extra-large to jumbo sizes. In the spot market the prices remains decent and is very slow to drop.
In Europe there was a slight drop in volumes due to low shipments but the prices are better due to this reaching €8.15 kg with an average total of €40.75 for the 5kg box.
On Monday 30 Jan prices were $40 dollars per box in the US.
With regard to this 2022/2023 season (until week 4), a total of 415,206 tons have been exported, of which 36% represents the Lapins variety with 149,130 tons, equivalent to 36%. In second place with 27% of exports (110,901 tons) is the Santina variety. Next is Regina with 63,320 tons equivalent to 15%.
Table Grapes
According to the iQonsulting team Peru exported 416 000 tons, a 6% increase compared to last season despite the political turmoil and riots, which halted harvesting in Ica, the main production region. Peruvian table grape exports could have been higher if it were not for the forced stoppages over the past two weeks.
Chile exported 3.1 million boxes of 8.2 kg up to week 3, which is a 25% decrease in exports. Of this amount exported 38% were red seedless, 54% green seedless, 5% black seedless and the traditional variety of Red Globe was 2%.
Prices - Peru reached $3.5 per kg during week 4, for white seedless, red seeded reached $3.4 while Red Globe reached $2.4 kg. Chilean prices in the US were not registered yet.
Europe - The highest price by supplier reached in Europe was by India with €3 kg for white seedless.
Blueberries
Peru exported 206 000 tons, a 24% increase compared to last year. Chile exported 77 522 last season and only 75 814 seeing a 2% decrease in the same period this year.
Blueberry prices for week 4 in the US – Chile reached $4.5 kg in the East Coast. Peru reached $5.5 kg and $4.4 kg on the West Coast and Mexico $4.9 kg.
On the European market Chile’s €6.4 kg for blueberries was surpassed by Peru that reached €7.2 kg for the same product.
For more information:
Isabel Quiroz
iQonsulting
Tel: +56 9 9920 3623
Email: [email protected]
www.iqonsulting.com