The Office of Agrarian Studies and Policies (Odepa) has revealed impressive data on Chile's fruit exports in its latest bulletin. Between January and April 2024, Chile exported almost 1.5 million tons of fruits for a record value of $4.44 billion FOB, i.e. 3.8% and 7.2% more volume and value, respectively, than in the previous period. This is the fourth consecutive year exports have increased. The main export products were cherries, grapes, blueberries, plums, and apples.
Fresh fruit exports accounted for 88% of fruit exports, with 1.3 million tons and a value of $3.9 billion FOB (+8%). This segment was led by cherry, grape, blueberry, plum, and nectarine shipments. Processed fruit and nuts exports also had a significant share, with notable increases in the frozen and dehydrated categories.
The main destination markets were China, the US, and the Netherlands, concentrating more than 80% of Chilean fruit exports. Cherries, in particular, were in exceptional demand in China, accounting for 91.7% of shipments. Despite a slight decrease in grape exports, this fruit maintained an important presence in the US market.
In the same period, Chile's fruit imports increased by 15%. Peru, Ecuador, and the US were its main suppliers. Imports were led by fresh fruit, followed closely by processed fruit and nuts.
Source: simfruit.cl