Fruit exports: Chile is a reliable world-class supplier

Over the past two decades, Chilean fruit exports have grown at an average annual growth rate of seven percent, from US$1.8 billion in 2003 to US$5.9 billion in 2021.

That is according to a recent report by the Directorate of Studies of the Undersecretariat for International Economic Relations “Dirección de Estudios de la Subsecretaría de Relaciones Económicas Internacionales” (SUBREI).

“Chile is a recognized player in the global industry for producing and exporting more than 50 different types of fruit and is considered a world-class supplier for its reliability and compliance with food safety based on international standards,” Undersecretary José Miguel Ahumada said.

He added that “fresh and dried fruits are now the second largest non-copper export of the South American country, surpassed only by seafood.”

The fruits most sold abroad are cherries, grapes, apples, blueberries, and walnuts. Also noteworthy are avocados, kiwis, plums, hazelnuts, peaches and nectarines, tangerines, pears, oranges, lemons, clementines, and almonds.

Undersecretary Ahumada stressed that this sector has created new job opportunities and innovation throughout the country.

“The fruit export industry has developed productive sectors such as nurseries, fruit research and development, pruning and harvesting, fumigation, packaging, labeling, cold chain, transportation logistics, and various agricultural services.

“The fruit sector and related activities create more than 740,000 jobs, making it one of the main drivers of the country’s economy.”

The report highlights that in terms of destinations, China plays a central role in this explosive growth in the sector’s shipments.

In 2003, the sector’s shipments to the Asian country amounted to US$15 million in 2021 to US$1.9 billion, representing an average annual growth rate of 31%, and in 2021 it was already the largest market for the national industry.

It is followed by the United States, the European Union, the Pacific Alliance, the United Kingdom, Mercosur, India, and South Korea.

The Secretary of State points out that “this has been supported by a joint strategy of the public and private sectors, focusing on the opening of each market in terms of tariffs and health.

These processes have also been supported by various export promotion campaigns in the different target countries, carried out jointly by “ProChile”, the Chilean government’s export promotion office, and the respective trade unions.”

Fresh cherries are among the fruits that have registered the most remarkable growth in Chilean fruit shipments in the last two decades, with an average annual growth rate of 20% between 2003 and 2021.

In addition, since 2018, these shipments have exceeded the US$1 billion mark, and since 2019 they have been the country’s primary export fruit, overtaking fresh grapes.

According to the International Trade Center, Chilean exports represent 41.6% of the world’s exports of this fruit, making Chile the largest exporter in the world.

More than 90% of exported cherries are shipped from two regions, O’Higgins and Maule, accounting for 64.6% and 25.4%, respectively.

Other regions with corresponding shipments are Valparaíso, La Araucanía, and the Metropolitan Region.

In 2021, 306 companies exported fresh cherries, 50% of which were MSMEs (medium-sized enterprises) that generated 7.5% of the export value.

Meanwhile, 140 large enterprises accounted for ninety-two percent of the value of shipments.

Cherries reached 57 destinations, with China alone accounting for 88% of shipments, followed at some distance by exports to South Korea, the United States, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Brazil, and Thailand. The report highlights that in 2021, 94% of fresh cherries imported by China were of Chilean origin.

In addition, it highlights that Chilean walnut exports have increased at an average annual rate of 16% over the last two decades, from US$28 million in 2003 to US$469 million in 2021, making Chile the third-largest exporter of walnuts in shell and unshelled.

In 2021, walnuts were shipped to 82 destinations, with India, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Spain as the top five recipients, accounting for 54% of shipments.

Other major destinations include the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Brazil, France, Vietnam, and Morocco.

With information from Latina Press