Season of Exports of Chilean Blueberry would advance towards historical volumes in conventional and organic fruit

To date the sector has exported a total of 85.738 tons, representing an increase of 6% with respect to the same period of the 2017-2018 exercise, and also an 3% above the initial estimate, for which it would be "more than compensating the effect of December hail ”

Nothing seems to stop the growth of the Chilean blueberry industry, and is that despite what was initially believed, with respect to the decrease in shipments derived from hailstorms at the end of 2018, today in a new estimate of the Committee of Blueberries from Chile-Asoex, volumes are expected to be very similar to the historical record achieved last season.

Andrés Armstrong, Executive Director of the Blueberry Committee of Chile, highlighted the growth that this industry has shown in the last decade, highlighting those of last season. “In all markets we have maintained growth, but with greater emphasis on the markets of Asia and Europe seeking greater diversification of our export markets. In Asia, the main country is China where blueberries have positioned themselves for their health benefits driven by the promotional actions of both the Blueberry Committee of Chile and the local producers that, in contrast to the Chilean supply, have also grown in production and marketing".

As for Europe, the Committee's director also described some variables that are influencing this increase in shipments: "In Europe there are countries that are just beginning to have greater relevance and growth in the consumption of blueberries, such as France, Russia and Italy. . In turn, we seek to expand the frontiers of consumption and this year we will carry out the first marketing actions for organic blueberries in Germany ”.

“The increase in exports to Europe, both last season (+ 12%), and this one, which to date has accumulated 29% higher than the same date of the previous campaign, account for the increase in consumption, and the opportunities that are opening in this market. Likewise, it is really interesting to visualize what happens in the organic market, or Bio, that this season shows a growth of more than 100% to Europe ”.

Exports

Regarding the progress of the exports of the 2018-2019 season, in its last cross-reporting the Committee indicates that at the 4 week shipments reached 8.124 tons, adding a total of 85.738 tons accumulated so far this season, representing an increase of 6% over the same week of the year 2017-2018, and also an 3% above the initial estimate, so it would be "more than compensating for the effect of December hail".

The Committee adds that considering that the season is in the final third and that the outputs of this week (5) and the next (6) will continue with important volumes, on the 7.000 weekly tons, there is a high probability that the 110 thousand tons reached last season.

Among the factors for a greater volume observed in fresh exports, there is mainly the good climate observed in the development and maturation of fruits, the weather in spring had the event of hail that made anticipate a decrease of 5% of production. However, the end of spring and summer with good temperature and only with a rain the second week of January, generated optimal conditions of fruit growth and the higher caliber observed has compensated for the expected post-hail fall.

The other factor is that the frozen sector, which initially provided for an increase in the diversion of fruit to this industry, due to the lower stock of frozen products in the US, has finally not been so. The climatic conditions have allowed to classify more fruit than expected for fresh, resulting in the high volumes exported to date.

Thus, it is estimated that total exports will reach 110.000 tons for fresh, with volumes somewhat higher than the initial estimate for the last third of the season.

As for organic exports remain at the peak, in the 04 week 1.815 tons were exported, accumulating to date 9.027 tons, 54% more than the previous year. North America maintains the leadership, with an 78% of accumulated shipments and Europe with an 21% participation.

 

Source
SimFRUIT

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