Chile's Citrus Fruit Committee announced that Chile exported 397,417 tons of citrus last year, slightly less than the 399,824 tons it exported in 2023.
The US continues to be the largest buyer of Chilean citrus fruits. In 2024, it imported 50,353 tons of clementines, 60,467 tons of lemons, 128,958 tons of mandarins, and 97,602 tons of oranges. Another key destination was Japan, which positioned itself as an important market for lemon exports in the 2024 season.
"The start of the 2024 season was marked by the impact of drought on citrus fruits, especially in Region IV. The rains only came after the start of the clementine harvest, affecting yields," stated Monserrat Valenzuela, executive director of the Chilean Citrus Fruit Committee.
"Chile has 4,000 hectares of clementines, 70% of which are in the IV Region according to the Natural Resources Information Center (CIREN). Lemons have recovered after the 2022 frost, leading to higher exports," she said.
"The US is the main destination market for Chilean citrus fruits. In the 2024 season, it received 98% of clementines, 95% of mandarins, 93% of oranges, and 63% of our lemons. Lemons also have a market in Japan and South Korea, which received 21,000 and 10,200 tons respectively," she added.
"Our main competitors are the producing countries of the southern hemisphere, such as South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Peru, and Uruguay. South Africa and Australia supply high-quality oranges. Argentina and South Africa are strong players in the lemon market. Peru has a strong position in the easy peelers market. We need to explore new markets to avoid depending on the US market," she stressed.
The Committee implements promotions in various markets and in recent years these campaigns have followed consumption trends. "The supply and demand profile has taken a big turn; with citrus available 365 days a year, Chilean citrus supplies the growing demand during the northern hemisphere's summer. A robust digital marketing campaign was launched this season. The campaign included posts on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. There were competitions to encourage consumption. We also shared videos of creative and healthy recipes using Chilean citrus fruits and of the production and export stages of citrus in Chile. All these contents highlight Chile as a reliable citrus supplier, underlining a citrus industry committed to sustainability, technology, and innovation," Valenzuela stated.
Source: simfruit.cl