2022/23 Chilean Cherry Season Expects Record-Breaking Export Volumes

According to the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX), Chile is expected to export a record volume of fresh cherries for the 2022/23 season, with forecasted exports of over 89 million 5-kilogram boxes, or nearly 477 thousand mt. If these estimates are achieved, it will represent an increase of 25% in total Chilean cherry exports compared with the previous season. The positive forecasts come after the USDA GAIN report confirmed that the upcoming Chilean cherry season would be highly productive due to favorable climatic conditions during winter, with more rainfall in comparison to the previous season.

The 2021/22 Chilean cherry season reached an export volume of 356.4 thousand mt, representing a marginal 1.1% YoY increase. One main factor that stifled export volume growth, initially projected at 377 thousand mt, was the underperformance in production. The 2021/22 Chilean cherry harvest was marked by unfavorable weather and production issues, including a labor shortage. Another critical factor was the various constraints across the logistics chain, which halted exports, particularly to China, Chile’s largest market.

For the 2022/23 season, the USDA estimates Chilean cherry production at 465 thousand MT, a 19.2% increase over 2021/22. The increase in production is mainly due to the projected increase in area planted and yields combined with expected favorable climatic conditions during winter. Therefore exporters are looking to capitalize on the current season production increase and translate that to the export volume to surge.

The first strategic effort that Chilean exporters will undertake this season is to considerably increase the export volume to China, which in the past season was hampered by port congestions, container shortages, and inspections and quarantine protocols. Despite the difficulties of the 2021/22 season, Chilean cherry exports to China totaled more than USD 2 billion. However, ASOEX has estimated that exports to China could reach USD 3 billion this year. Therefore, ASOEX has committed to working with various operators in the logistics chain in China to avoid a repeat of the logistical and port congestion problems encountered last season.

The main issue with last season’s logistics constraints was that the quality of the Chilean fruit was poor by the time it arrived on the market. According to Gillian Liu, Tridge’s Distribution Manager in China, the Chinese market expects Chilean cherries to arrive in Guangzhou Market by W43. Chinese importers have high hopes for good-quality Chilean cherries this season. “Forecasts indicate that this year the quality of Chilean cherries in China will be higher than the Argentine cherries quality. Chilean cherries are expected to have a better taste and be cheaper. Therefore, more Chilean shipments are expected,” she mentioned. She added that “the main problem in quality is normally the hardness and taste, while normally Chilean cherries have glossy color and smooth skin.”

The second strategic effort for the 2022/23 season is to reduce the Chinese market dependency with broader market diversification. Of the total volume exported in the 2021/22 season, more than 90% went to the Chinese market. However, in the same season, cherry exports to the US grew by 92% YoY, reaching 13.8 thousand mt, when just two years ago, the volume exported to the US was only 7 thousand mt.

The rising demand for cherries in the US clearly indicates that the Chilean cherry industry will diversify its export markets as the world’s number one exporter of cherries, with 41.6% of the global market. In addition, ASOEX has also indicated that this 2022/23 season will be more active in the promotion of the fruit in the EU market, which recognize as another key developing market.