According to the Chilean Blueberry Committee, the Chilean blueberry season was affected by the frosts in September, the botrana Lobesia and the port strike. Thus, sales to the United States, its main market, decreased. However, there was an increase in shipments to Europe and Asia and a significant rise in prices.
"This season was first affected by the frosts in September, which made us change our production estimates by 10%," said Andrew Armstrong, manager of the Chilean Blueberry Committee.
According to official estimates, the international outlook for Chilean blueberries, as well as their participation in target markets, changed a lot. Chile became the leading exporter of this fruit, which became the star of Chilean foreign sales, especially since the opening of the Chinese and Korean markets.
However, up until week 5 (from January 27 to February 2), only 34,200 tons had been exported to the United States, a 34% decrease in shipments when compared to the 51,900 tons exported in the same period last year.
Isabel Urrutia, of IQonsulting, noted that, "we exported 12,000 tons less to the United States between weeks 52 and 4 (from December to late January)." She also said that, "if we don't take the climate factor into account, estimates are that we didn't export about 9,000 tons because of the port strike and the Lobesia."
Prior to unforeseen port strike, blueberry exporters had decided to divert a portion of their production to the European and Asian markets in order to avoid the fumigation process required by United States and not risk the quality of the fruit.
So far, these new markets have grown 14% (Europe) and 30% (Asia). To date, the United States and Canada concentrate 67% of exports, Europe 24% and Asia 9%.
Moreover, by the third week of January, the average price for a 72 ounce box recorded a 34% increase over the previous year, after which it decreased to 13% more than in the same period of 2013.
