Chilean exports of fresh fruit and nuts to China registered a growth of 46.7 per cent for the first half of 2013 compared with the same period in 2012, according to data released by the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture.
This figure makes China the fastest growing export destination for these exports from Chile by a considerable margin, followed by the Netherlands at 20 per cent and Italy with 11.3 per cent.
China's rise has seen it increase its export market share of Chilean fresh fruit and nuts from 5 to 7.1 per cent.
Table grapes have recorded an extraordinary rise, comprising approximately 57 per cent of the volume shipped to reach 88,200 metric tonnes, a growth of 60 percent.
By contrast, the UK has recorded a steep decline in Chilean exports of 9.2 per cent, followed by Brazil at 6.8 per cent and Colombia at 4.8 per cent.
Despite China's prolific rise, the US remains Chile's main export destination, receiving exports totalling just shy of 718,500 metric tonnes for the first half of this year.
This comprised almost a third of Chile's total shipments for this period. Of this fresh produce, blueberries, plums, apples table grape and kiwifruit were the exports that saw the most notable rises, growing by 29 per cent, 28 per cent, 13 per cent, 12 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.
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