Shipments to increase by 11 per cent, with plums leading the charge
Chile is on course to export 40.5mn cartons (8kg) in 2025/26, 11 per cent more than in the previous campaign, according to the first forecast released by the Chilean Stonefruit Committee. The estimate is based on data from 44 companies that together accounted for 87 per cent of total shipments last season.
“Projections for almost all stonefruit species are up, led by plums, which show the largest increase at 15 per cent,” said the committee’s executive director, Ignacio Caballero.
Nectarine exports are projected to reach 15.3mn cartons, 5 per cent more than in 2024/25. Within this category, white nectarines will reach 10.2mn cartons, an increase of 14 per cent on last season, while yellow nectarine exports should reach 5.1mn cartons, a decrease of 9 per cent on 2024/25.
Exports of Japanese plums are projected to reach 15.6mn (7kg) cartons, representing an increase of 3 per cent on last season’s total. Red Japanese plums are down 1 per cent at 9.3mn cartons, while black Japanese plums are set to rise by 5 per cent to 5.9mn cartons.
Exports of European plums are set to reach 6.2mn (9kg) cartons, an increase of 15 per cent on 2024/25.
Shipments of peaches are projected to increase by 8 per cent, reaching 3.4mn (8kg) cartons.
“This season, we added a breakdown by destination market for plums and nectarines,” Caballero said. “We expect to export 18.1mn cartons of nectarines and plums to Asia, a decrease of -3 per cent on last season. Meanwhile, we anticipate shipping 10.6mn cartons to North America, an increase of 52 per cent.”
By contrast, exports to Latin America are projected at 4.8mn cartons, a decrease of 16 per cent on 2024/25, while shipments to Europe are projected to fall by 2 per cent to 3.7mn cartons.
