The Brazilian fruit industry is on the up, according to a report from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, with exports for 2007 totalling 918,000 tonnes – an increase of 14 per cent when compared with the previous year.

A major factor behind the growth was the popularity of table grapes and melons, with overseas grape sales hitting US$169.9m, up 43 per cent on 2006, and melon exports garnering US$128m for the same period, an increase of 45 per cent.

Apple exports also proved successful during the 2007 season, increasing by 114 per cent in terms of value to US$68.6m. The jump was partly attributed to the weather setbacks during the two previous years, however.

Moacyr Saraiva Fernandes, president of the Brazilian Fruit Institute (IBRAF), noted that overall export sales volumes could have been even higher in 2007: "The increase could have been greater had it not been for the retraction in exports of bananas, citrus fruit and papaya, which are more sensitive to the depreciation of the dollar."

Meanwhile, cashew nut export revenue jumped 20 per cent, at a total export value of US$225m.

IBRAF reported that the majority of fruit exports in 2007 went to the EU, making up approximately 68 per cent of sales, although in the coming year the organisation will be focusing heavily on opening up new markets such as Russia, China and eastern Europe.