SANTIAGO: Chilean cherry exports have had a sustained growth in the last three seasons. According to the Office of studies and agricultural policies (ODEPA), 103,000 tons were exported in the season that is coming to an end, double than what was exported in the 2012/2013 campaign.
The growing trend is linked with increases in the planted area and the entrance of new orchards, highlighted the report, which allowed the country to increase its exports from 66,000 tons in the 2013/2014 season to 103,000 tons in the 2014/2015 season.
China is the main destination for Chilean cherry exports. In the 2012/13 season, Chile exported 28,491 tons to China, while in the 2014/15 season it exported 77,000 tons.
According to the report, the Asian country represents 74.6% of the volume of cherries exported last season. The report also states that, “much of the growth of Chilean shipments depends on a single country.”
ODEPA also stated that there was also an increase in the price of Chilean cherry shipments to its major markets, China and the United States. According to the report, “it was especially notorious in the fruit that entered China, where the fruit’s prices rose from an average of $7.78 to $8.86 dollars FOB per kilo.”
The South American country continues to hold the leadership of exports of cherry in the winter in the northern hemisphere. However, the report warns that, “the situation could change if market conditions continue to be so favorable and there is an incentive for the production of cherries in competing countries.”
The biggest cherry consuming countries are Turkey, with 450,000 tons a year, followed by the United States and China, with an annual consumption that exceeds 300,000 tons each.
According to ODEPA, world demand for fresh cherries in international markets amounted to 424,000 tons. China was the main importing country, as it demanded 28% of the world trade.
Other countries that demand big volumes of cherries are Russia, which acquired 13% of the shipments in 2014; Germany with 8% of the market, and Canada with 7% of the total.
