The Chilean export fruit market continues to expand and diversify with products such as table grapes, avocados, cherries, blueberries and citrus fruits.
According to Leonardo Marchant, partner of GLS Fruit Exports, this Chilean company, which has been in the market for more than 20 years, has helped transform producers into direct exporters able to supply all its clients with quality products. This has allowed them to consolidate an operation that covers the 12 months of the year, marketing fruits with different seasonal periods.
One of the key goals of GLS has been the diversification of its markets to minimize risks and maximize opportunities. Historically, their main market for table grapes was Asia, which accounted for 65-70% of the volume exported; however, with the introduction of new grape varieties and changes in consumer preferences, GLS has expanded its presence in Europe, especially in the UK and Spain, and in the United States, markets that have recorded a growing demand for Chilean grapes.
The Asian market remains essential for GLS, especially for products such as blueberries and cherries, which are highly demanded. In the case of blueberries, 100% of GLS exports go to Asia, while cherries are also meeting some strong demand in China and Korea. Nevertheless, GLS is looking to diversify into other markets, such as the United States and Europe, to reduce dependence on Asia.
For citrus (oranges and mandarins), North America is the main destination, with the United States and Canada as the largest consumers. "For years, Korea was a key market for Chilean citrus, but the introduction of more competitive tariffs by South Africa and Australia has caused us to lose opportunities in that region," says Marchant.
One of the biggest challenges for GLS is the competition it is facing in established markets, such as Europe, where countries such as Peru and Colombia, South Africa, Israel, and Morocco have gained ground in the export of avocados and other fruits. In Marchant's words, "Peru is flooding the avocado market, but since it is an earlier market, it opens a window of opportunity for Chilean avocados," mainly between September and October, before other producers enter the market.
Despite the challenges, GLS continues to achieve good growth in markets such as Asia. "Asian consumers really like the new Chilean fruit varieties and this has allowed GLS to remain a relevant exporter in the region," says Marchant.
GLS exports around 18 million kilos of fruit per year, and despite difficulties in some markets, the company continues to seek opportunities to increase its volumes, especially of cherries and grapes. "In the case of avocados, growth depends largely on the situation in Chile's domestic market, which has started to pay better prices, thereby reducing the volume available for export," says Marchant.
"As for table grapes, prices have stayed high during most of the season, especially in the U.S. market, where they have reached record high levels. However, prices fell towards the end of the season due to oversupply. Regarding avocados, the price in Europe is good, with an approximate return of 14 euros per 4 kg box, so it is considered a profitable price. However, the stability of these prices throughout the season may be affected by competition and marketing opportunities," says Marchant.
For more information:
Leonardo Marchant
GLS Fruit Exports
Chile
Tel.: +56 99079 2939
[email protected]
www.gls.cl