Exports of Chilean fresh fruits to Europe have fallen by 12 per cent in volume terms over the last three years, compared with growth in Asia (23 per cent) and Latin America (10 per cent), according to a report by Chilean newspaper El Mercurio.
Last season (2009/10), Expordata figures show Chilean fruit exports to Europe totalled 710,236 tonnes, down on the 813,113 tonnes shipped in 2007/08.
Plums, table grapes, apples and pears are among the fruit categories to show the biggest declines in their European sales, falling by 36 per cent, 21 per cent, 12 per cent and 16 per cent respectively, the publication said.
Local suppliers told El Mercurio that the contraction in Europe is the result of a fall in the value of the euro against the US dollar and a decrease in fruit consumption due to the recession, coupled with a rise in local fruit stocks in Europe and the growth in demand from Asia and Latin America.
Last season, Chile increased its fruit exports to Asia by 23 per cent to reach 261,693 tonnes, according to Expordata data. Sendings to Latin America rose by 10 per cent during the same period.
“For several years ago the European market has become more concentrated and it has now been saturated,” commented Antonio Walker, chairman of Fedefruta (the Chilean Federation of Fresh Fruit Producers).
“With the opening of Asia and the strong growth of Brazil, various producers are taking their fruit to these emerging destinations. It’s not by chance that 25m cartons were exported to Asia and 30m cartons to Latin America.”
This season (2010/11), however, Manuel Alcaíno of Decofrut suggests that Chilean fruit will have more space in Europe since local stocks will be lower.
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