Chilean fruit export volume falls, value rises in first trimester of 2023

From January to April 2023, 1.482 million tons of Chilean fruit exports were registered for a value of $3.752 billion FOB, which represents a decrease in volume of 2.5 percent and an increase in value of 4 percent versus the same period in 2022, according to Odepa.

Of this, 86.1 percent corresponds to fresh fruit, 11.3 percent to processed fruit, and 2.6 percent to dried fruits. Fresh fruit reached sales of 1.256 million tons equivalent to $3.229 billion FOB, registering a decrease in volume of 3.3 percent and an increase in value of 3.3 percent when compared to the same period the previous year.

The main commodity exported were cherries, registering a volume of 302,145 tons equivalent to $1.593 billion FOB, representing 49 percent of the total value of fresh fruit exported during the analysis period and reflecting a 6 percent increase in volume and 6.8 percent in value. The largest destination is China.

This was followed by grapes with 438,600 tons equivalent to $708.9 million FOB, reflecting a decrease of 4.9 percent in volume and an increase of 1.8 percent in value, with the main destinations being the U.S. and China.

In third were blueberries, with 72,200 tons equivalent to $331.9 million FOB, reflecting a decrease of 19.8 percent in volume and down 6 percent in value, with the main destinations being the U.S. and the Netherlands.

And in fourth are plums, with 134,400 tons equivalent to $218.9 million FOB, reflecting a decrease of 5.8 percent in volume and an increase of 9 percent in value with the main destinations being China and the U.S.