With positive results culminate seasons of cranberries and cherries in Chile
Asia, and in particular China, are consolidated as a market for both exports. With positive results, but not at the highest level of performance, the export seasons of Blueberry and Cherry in Chile ended. In the case of blueberries, the early season, and in the case of cherries, climatic complications, undermined the obtaining of better results.
A total of 103.144 tons of blueberries were exported during the 2016-2017 season, improving the result of last season by an 12,9%, also surpassing the projections of the Blueberry Committee at the beginning of the season.
Among the reasons for the increase is the increase in the area planted and the choice of varieties with higher productivity. On the other hand, market conditions allowed to extend the season and shipments beyond the projections, the SimFRUIT portal reported.
Andrés Armstrong, Executive Director of the Committee of Cranberries of Chile, contributed an outstanding element: "probably the most relevant factor was the low price of frozen that pushed the increase in the volume of fresh".
Despite the promising figures, the season closed without festivities, due to the unprecedented advance of up to four weeks from the start of the peak weeks, according to Armstrong: “We were not able to predict and alert this situation that impacted the harvesting, packaging and logistics processes. On the other hand, we find growing volumes from Mexico and, mainly, Peru in a market without promotional activities, since they are not usually considered for those dates".
Despite this situation and thanks to a strong promotion, the volumes remained above the 6.000 tons. "This normalized the movement of the fruit and somewhat improved the price situation"said the Executive Director.
Destination Asia
Europe and Asia were the most outstanding destinations for the Chilean blueberry. In the Old Continent, the volume exported grew an 14,4%, while in Asia it did an 53,6%. Shipments to North America, meanwhile, also showed growth, reaching 6,7%.
In Asia, meanwhile, growth was mainly driven by China, where about 9.526 tons were exported, an 75% more than last season. South Korea continues to be a very attractive market, practically kept its volume, while in Japan the Chilean blueberries continue losing presence. However, exports to Taiwan grew by 85%, exceeding the volume sent to Japan.
Cherries
On the other hand, the export season of cherries 2016-2017 culminated with a total of 94.869 tons (18.973.800 boxes), representing an increase of 13,3% in shipments, compared to the previous season, informed the president of the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile, AG (Asoex), Ronald Bown.
As for the destination markets Bown, he pointed out that "Asia continues to be the main market with 86,7% of total exports, in which China represented 82%". He also highlighted South Korea, open market in January of 2016, which had "A first volume of 1.341 tons".
The second destination was North America (USA and Canada), with an 6,7% of the total cherries exported, while Europe received the 2,7% of exports with a decrease of 0,5% of the volume of 2017.
Bown pointed out that "There were losses, mainly for climatic reasons, which fluctuated between 5 and 7 million boxes".
It should be noted that this season, the Chilean cherries industry, promoted three major promotional campaigns in the US, Brazil and China, the latter ranked as the only one of its kind, both for the impact at the market level, and for the investment associated with it. In this regard, Cristián Tagle, president of the Cherry Committee of Asoex, said that the entity concentrated this season its promotional programs in Asia, cradle investment of US $ 5 million.
Parallel to this campaign, the Committee achieved the opening of a shipping line with fast shipping to China, which allowed arrivals 7 days before normal transits, a fact that helped to arrive with better quality fruit, benefiting all exporters and producers .
Source: Mundomaritimo.cl
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