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Fruit exports could surpass forestry and salmon sectors, becoming the country's second-largest export

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Cherries will play a key role in the total, and the sector's shipments could reach US$7 billion.

The fruit industry is preparing for a record year in exports, leaving behind the logistical challenges and effects of climate change.

Between January and September 2024, fresh fruit shipments totaled US$5.036 billion, according to ProChile, based on data from the National Customs Service. This figure nearly matches the US$5.066 billion recorded for all of 2023, the second-highest amount in these exports. The highest record was in 2021, when approximately US$5.187 billion was shipped abroad.

If the trend continues, ProChile expects last year's shipments to be surpassed, achieving a new record. This is considering that the fourth quarter—the peak export period—is still pending, as it includes the start of cherry, berry, and stone fruit shipments, in addition to apples, pears, and kiwis, among others.

"This is undoubtedly an industry that will continue growing despite the setbacks experienced in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. So far in 2024, we’ve seen a normalization of the external factors that affected the industry in previous seasons, and the same can be expected for the 2024-25 season and beyond," says Gonzalo Salinas, senior analyst at Rabobank.

Climb

Ignacio Fernández, general director of ProChile, states that fresh fruit exports in 2024 "could be the highest in the last 20 years." ProChile data shows that export figures have nearly quadrupled, rising from US$1.292 billion in 2003 to US$5.066 billion in 2023.

The trade association Frutas de Chile projects that fresh fruit exports could exceed US$7 billion this year and rise to US$10 billion by 2030. "The industry is at its best, and with this, Chile strengthens its international recognition as one of the world's leading suppliers of high-quality fresh fruit," says Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile.

Thus, fruit exports could surpass salmon farming and the forestry sector to take second place among the country's top exports, behind copper.

The salmon sector shipped around US$6.4 billion in 2023, according to Customs data. Meanwhile, forestry exports reached approximately US$5.556 billion, according to the Chilean Forestry Institute (Infor).

Cherries will play a key role in this growth. "Cherries alone account for nearly a full percentage point of the national GDP," adds Marambio.

For the 2024-2025 season, shipments are estimated at 131 million boxes, around 660,000 tons, valued between US$3.5 billion and US$4 billion, according to industry sources.

"If the volume estimate for the 2024/25 season is met, cherries will become the undisputed leader of Chile's fresh fruit export industry, both in terms of planted area and export volume and value," says Salinas. "This fundamental role of cherries in Chile's fresh fruit exports will continue in the coming seasons, with no other product posing competition during this decade," he adds.

Source: Subscription edition ofEl Mercurio