Chilean fresh fruit and vegetable exports grew slightly last year compared to 2014. In total, 2.47 million tonnes were shipped. Over the past decade, Chilean exports of fresh fruits and vegetables have remained fairly stable; exports have fluctuated between 2.2 million tonnes in 2005 and 2.75 million tonnes in 2011 and 2013.
Last year's exports were worth 4.28 billion dollars; a much lower figure than in the two previous years. In 2014, they had reached 4.75 billion dollars. Most Chilean exports consisted of fresh fruit. In the ranking of the world's top fruit exporters in terms of value, Chile is currently in fourth place, right behind the Netherlands. In terms of volume, Chile is in a position outside the top 10. The high position in the value ranking compared to the volume one is mainly the result of the large share of grapes, which are relatively high priced.
Chile looking for alternative markets to the EU and US
Just like several other exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables, Chile should also look for alternative destinations to its traditional clients. The market for fresh fruit and vegetables in the EU and North America is becoming less attractive for suppliers like Chile. In recent years, exports to EU countries have registered the biggest drops. Last year, exports stabilised at a level of over 500,000 tonnes. In the past, shipments to EU countries could reach up to 750,000 tonnes. North America, and especially the United States is, by far, the most important recipient of Chilean fruit. Last year, there was actually even a small recovery of exports, with almost 800,000 tonnes shipped to the United States.
A tenth of the total to the Netherlands
Last year, for the first time, more Chilean fruit was shipped to Asia than to the EU. Specifically, Chilean fruit shipments have registered a spectacular growth in China. In 2012, the total volume exceeded 100,000 tonnes for the first time. Last year, the volume marketed in China stood already at 220,000 tonnes. China has consequently become the third largest recipient of Chilean fresh fruit and vegetables, behind the US and the Netherlands. If this trend continues, China will soon surpass the Netherlands and become the second largest importer.
In 2015, the share of the Netherlands has fallen below 10%. In relative terms, the greatest Dutch share corresponds to avocados. Almost half of the total Chilean exports go to the Netherlands. Chilean pears also account for a considerable share of the imports in the Netherlands (19%).
Also a lot shipped to neighbouring Brazil and Colombia
There was also a spectacular growth last year in Brazil, which received a quarter of all Chilean fresh fruit and vegetable exports. This growth was achieved as a result of a significant increase in the export of Chilean onions and plums. Number five on the ranking of biggest recipients is Colombia. In 2015, exports to that country declined a little. Next is the UK. For years, Chilean fruit and vegetable exports to the UK had been on the rise, but in 2015, the total figure has dropped again by 5%. Russia is the eighth largest client, behind Peru. Exports to Russia have recovered a little in 2015 after the sharp fall recorded in 2014, but the level of previous years has not been reached even by a long shot.
Grapes main Chilean export product
The two main Chilean export products are grapes and apples. The export of grapes last year grew slightly, reaching 750,000 tonnes, although the figure was still lower than in 2013 (855,000 tonnes). Chilean grapes go mainly to the United States. The Netherlands is the third largest client, behind China. Also, the export of grapes to the Netherlands shows a negative trend.
Sharp drop export apples
Exports of Chilean apples fell sharply last year, reaching 630,000 tonnes, compared to the 820,000 tonnes of 2014. Some of the reasons for this include the exchange rate of the dollar, the large stocks in several buying countries and the low prices in various markets. The size of the Chilean apple harvest was certainly not the issue; it reached 1.35 million tonnes, which is a normal volume. Chile took its biggest hit in the United States, where the country's exports dropped by over a third. In 2015, not even 80,000 tonnes were shipped to the United States, compared to the 120,000 tonnes of 2014 and 135,000 tonnes of 2013. The second largest purchaser, Colombia, also reduced its import volumes significantly (-17%). The export of Chilean apples to Peru and the Netherlands, which stand third and fourth in the ranking, did not actually change much, with shipments totalling 40,000 tonnes. For the Netherlands, this was also a sharp decline. This put consequently an end to a long-term positive trend. Moreover, exports to other EU countries dropped even more considerably than those going to the Netherlands. Last year, exports of Chilean apples to the EU fell to slightly more than 100,000 tonnes. Ten years ago, this was still double. Initially, Asia and North America were caught up in this, but in recent years it has no longer been the case.
Partial recovery import kiwifruit
Far away from the big two, kiwifruit is the third largest export product for Chile. After a disastrous 2014, export volumes grew again considerably last year, but the 185,000 tonnes shipped are still not at the level reached in 2014, when more than 200,000 tonnes of Chilean kiwis were exported. As far as destinations are concerned, the United States was the main buyer of last year's kiwifruit exports, with nearly 30,000 tonnes. The Netherlands stands second with 21,000 tonnes. In 2015, all EU countries combined received about 65,000 tonnes of Chilean kiwifruit shipments.
The Netherlands is the main buyer of Chilean pears. Chilean pear exports in 2015 reached 140,000 tonnes, thus going back to the level recorded before 2014. The Netherlands is the main consumer of Chilean pears. Plums also grew significantly, as exports had fallen sharply in 2014 as a result of bad weather conditions.
Last year, exports recovered again, but it remains to be seen whether the levels of 2014 (100,000 tonnes) will again be achieved this year. A good share of Chilean plums go to China.
Chilean avocado exports fell sharply last year, down to 90,000 tonnes, compared to 110,000 tonnes in 2014. Exports to the Netherlands remained stable at 42,000 tonnes. However, there was a big loss in the US market, where shipments dropped from 40,000 tonnes in 2014 to just 10,000 tonnes last year. The wide range of Mexican avocados replaced not only the Chilean product, but also that from Peru and the Dominican Republic.
More and more blueberries
Exports of Chilean blueberries continue to increase. In 2015, they reached 87,000 tonnes, which was a small growth. Most of the fruit goes to the United States. Exports to both the UK and the Netherlands last year reached just about 10,000 tonnes. For the United Kingdom, this was much more than a year earlier, but for the Netherlands, it was surely a lot less. Furthermore, China is also a major consumer of Chilean blueberries.
Halt in the growth of cherry exports
Exports of Chilean cherries remained stable last year, after having grown substantially every year until 2014. Of the total exports in 2015, which amounted to 82,000 tonnes, approximately half went to the United States. Onions are the only Chilean vegetable with significant export volumes, although recent trends have incidentally been of sharp declines. Last year, only 27,000 tonnes were shipped. A few years back, this volume was as high as 80,000 tonnes. Just like the Netherlands, Chile made strikingly large onion shipments to Brazil last year. Chile also exports quite a considerable quantity of citrus every year. There are very few Chilean citrus fruits exported to the EU. The United States is, by far, the most important customer and Japan is the second largest.
