Preliminary forecast from Chile’s Pink Lady Fruit Committee points to a 4.4 per cent increase in shipments
Chilean apple exports are projected to grow by 4.4 per cent this season to 573,658 tonnes according to the first new-season forecast from the country’s Pink Lady Fruit Committee.
The committee’s coordinator, Ignacio Caballero, said a 4.4 per cent increase is expected across most apple varieties, especially red varieties, with the entire Pink Lady category forecast to grow by 5 per cent.
“In the case of Pink Lady, the estimate reflects an upward trend starting in 2022, due primarily to an improvement in weather and production factors,” he said.
Pink Lady apple exports are expected to reach 114,515 tonnes. Gala apple shipments will decrease by 2 per cent, reaching 243,802 tonnes.
Fuji exports, meanwhile, will grow by 6 per cent to 52,089 tonnes. Red Club apples, meanwhile are projected to reach 28,890 tonnes, a fall of 13 per cent on last year. Other red varieties are set to increase by more than 49 per cent, reaching 62,899 tonnes. Green varieties will also show growth of 6 per cent, reaching 70,787 tonnes; the exception being Green Club apples, which remain flat.
Caballero said this initial estimate represents data submitted by 33 apple producing and exporting companies that are members of the Pink Lady Fruit Committee of Chile, which together represent 78 per cent of the total fresh apples exported in 2024 and 91per cent of Pink Lady’s shipments.
He added that the sector will carry out a second estimate in mid-May, the results of which will be announced by the end of that month or in early June.
