The Chilean fresh fruit industry is reportedly anticipating a 5 per cent growth in its exports during the 2009/10 season despite sendings to date registering just a 0.5 per cent increase.
The optimistic outlook is based on the positive market performance of some fruits as well as forecasts for kiwifruit and apple shipments, Ronald Bown, chairman of the Chilean Exporters Association (Asoex), told national publication La Estrategia.
“We’re seeing favourable international prices for some fruit categories and varieties,” Mr Bown explained. “Moreover, the season has yet to conclude – we’ve still the kiwifruit and apple shipments to go.”
Presently, Chile’s fruit exports stand at 2,166,000 tonnes during 2009/10, according to Asoex.
Mr Bown said the modest increase forecast for this season is attributable largely to climate-related problems during the 2009 Chilean spring, which affected mainly the production of stonefruit and (to a lesser extent) table grapes.
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