Strong weeks of Chilean blueberries in the USA lower prices to worrying levels
In the middle of the Chilean blueberry season, industry sources referred to the development of the campaign, the drop in prices due to the large volumes sent to the United States. and the quality problems that have been presenting some lots when arriving at the destination markets.
According to Raul Dastres president of Valle Maule, so far "it has been a season within what one might expect, in good things as well as bad ones".
Although the hailstorm in mid-November affected the crops, and our volumes as a company, it did not have a greater impact on the total volumes, according to Dastres.
He stressed that although the markets have been stable so far, the United States, the most relevant market for this category, has been somewhat different.
The campaign should be divided into two sections, with the first good in terms of prices, prior to large shipments to the US, and the second with some concern, starting with the big arrivals, he said.
"Already when the volumes begin to arrive, USA. as it is normal, it fades quite a bit, by taking consumer prices to more massive levels, with which prices fall and it is difficult to expect attractive returns for Chile. At least in relation to what one would like. "
The previous was reaffirmed by Sebastián Carmona CarSol General Manager, who indicated that "we are in the heaviest weeks of the season in the US, although prices are starting to rebound in Europe and Asia with some ups and downs."
In that line, Dastres explained that for them in Europe the situation is somewhat different.
"It's a much more stable market ... and it has had a significant growth in the last three years. In fact, I would say that we have higher price levels than we had four years ago, even if they are lower than last year's. "
"Within the fruit of good quality, within the fruit that has no problems, there are returns, which one could expect from Europe that exceed more than 50% what reaches the end of the US".
Felipe Juillerat de Hortifrut commented that, according to industry estimates until the 4 week it was around 70% -75% of the season, so it was expected that the Chilean campaign would meet the general estimate of the volumes that were going to to export.
In fact, according to a report from the Committee of Blueberries sent in the week 4, "03 metric tons (MT) were exported during the 10.437 week. The total accumulated to date is 77.603 TM, estimating an advance of 77% based on the estimate ".
They added in the report that "it is very possible that the final volume is 5% greater than the estimated after the hail and the 105 to 108 thousand TM" are reached for this campaign.
Juillerat explained, in addition, that what has been the behavior of the markets in particular what happens with Argentina and Peru, has been an overlap that benefits Chile.
"Peru begins to lower volumes towards the end of November ... the same goes for Argentina and at that time Chile begins to increase its export volumes".
"Then a transition is generated that in general is quite good, because the initial demand curves are being polished in the season from August to December and then Chile takes from December to March."
He added that although Peru's volumes have been growing, they have captured an early window, where Chile is not, which has also helped to increase demand in Chile's time, since it generates a positive inertia.
In fact, according to Carmona, "Peru has increased demand, in the sense that the world is consuming more blueberries weekly" and that would be thanks to them.
Quality at destination
One of the challenges that Chilean exporters have faced in this campaign has been the issue of the quality of the fruit in destination.
While none of the industry representatives claimed to have this problem, they did point out that it has been something that has been discussed among the exporters.
According to Dastres, some lots of blueberries would have rotting problems when they arrived in the markets, which some attribute to excessive rainfall at the time of flowering.
"There is a presence of rot and condition problems in destination that is not minor in Europe and that has to do, at least in my opinion, with the rainfall regime that we had during the whole spring," said Dastres.
He added that this could generate problems in the future, since "there is a perception today in the market that the fruit of Chile is not being reliable".
Despite this, not all have suffered from this problem. Carmona remarked that "we are satisfied with the arrivals of our fruit to destination until the minute, we have not had problems to regret".
Yes it indicated that they are with smaller volumes to the awaited thing in some varieties, but everything in function of which they had considered.
Emerging Asia
Although export to Asia is not new to Chilean fruit, it is usual for products to be shipped to China, a situation that is changing as some exporters begin to evaluate countries such as Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, among others.
Juillerat commented that, in this line, although there is still not a high point of demand, as with cherries, if there is a curiosity about blueberries.
"Little by little they are beginning to know the product, I would not tell you to sue it or to consume it in large quantities, but to know it".
He added that this would benefit the whole category of blueberries, not only conventional, but also organic.
"Without a doubt, organic production has been increasing since Chile and we see without a doubt that there are some markets that definitely increase the growth rates for these types of products," he said.
"The organic, in the last 5 or 6 years has been growing gradually in terms of demand".
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