Table Grape Committee said new varieties will account for 71 per cent of shipments this season
Chile expects a table grape export crop of 63.3mn (8.2kg) cartons in 2025/26, a contraction of 6.9 per cent compared to last year, according to the preliminary forecast from the Chilean Fruit Table Grape Committee.
Ignacio Caballero, the committee’s executive director, said the decline is due to the acceleration of varietal replacement, a process that has not yet compensated for the loss of traditional varieties.
At just over 44.9mn cartons, new varieties are set to make up 71 per cent of total exports, up from 67 per cent last season. This includes 18.4mn cartons of new red varieties,22.8mn cartons of new white varieties and 4mn cartons of new black varieties.
Traditional varieties will account for around 8.7mn cartons and Red Globe will make up 9.5mn cartons.
By colour, white varieties will increase their share to 40 per cent of the total, exceeding 25.1mn cartons. Red varieties (excluding Red Globe) will total 23.3mn cartons and black varieties will reach 4.9mn cartons. Red Globe, meanwhile, will continue to lose market share – around 9.5mn cartons are expected, 15 per cent less than last year.
Timco, Allison and Sweet Celebration lead the field in new red varieties, while in white grapes, Arra 15, Timpson and Sweet Globe will be the most planted varieties. In black grapes, Sweet Favors, Sable and Sweet Sapphire take centre stage.
According to the committee, the production calendar will be brought forward between weeks 6 and 10, with lower volume picking than last season. By origin, all producing regions are set for a lower crop, while Coquimbo and Valparaíso are expected to account for a greater share of total supply than last season.
Regarding export markets, the committee said it anticipates growth of 14 per cent in Latin American markets, while shipments to Asia and North America are forecast to fall by 18 per cent and 9 per cent respectively.
This initial projection is based on data reported by the Committee’s member companies, which together accounted for 83 per cent of table grape exports last season.
“Varietal replacement is advancing and organising the mix,” Caballero said. “Supply prioritises quality and condition, and that is moving the needle toward new varieties, with a greater weight of whites and tighter windows.”
