Asia Ranks as the Main Destination for Chilean Fruit Exports

Published 2021년 9월 6일

Asia has positioned itself as the leading destination for Chilean fruit for export this season, according to information released by the Association of Fruit Exporters of Chile AG (Asoex). The different Asian markets have displaced the US as the leading destination for Chilean fresh fruits. In 2021, exports to Asian markets had a 15.3% increase from the same period last year. Despite logistics challenges, China is leading the growth in terms of destinations, and cherry is the product that has increased its shipments the most.

Tridge has talked to Alvaro Rodríguez, an expert in Chile’s sea freight cargo fresh fruit industry, to gain deeper insights into what products have been increasing their volume to Asia this year and analyze fruit export trends.

Market Shift for Chilean Fruits

According to ASOEX, Chile has sent 846,000 tons of fruit to Asian markets within the first half of the year. According to the Office of Agrarian Studies and Policies of Chile (ODEPA), fruit exports during this period totaled 2.35 million tonnes, accounting for USD 4.90 million. This figure shows a slight decrease of 0.1% and a 4% increase in value from the same period last year in terms of volume. Most importantly, it features a marked shift among the leading destinations for Chilean fruit, with Asian markets displacing the US as the main destination.

Asia was the leading destination for fresh fruits mainly because of cherry exports to China, concentrating 90% of the export share. In total, the country has sent around 846,000 tons of fruit, reflecting an increase of 15.3%. The US was the second-largest market, receiving about 662,700 tons, a drop of approximately 10% from the same period last year. The European markets have imported 276,432 tons, Latin America 383,000 tons, the Middle East 35,456 tons, and Canada 30,488 tons of Chilean fruits.

According to Alvaro Rodriguez, an expert in the fresh fruit exports in Chile, the main reason for the shift to the Asian market is the production increase from last season along with the openness of new Asian markets. “Production got bigger in the 2020 production season, so there is more fruit in the market along with new markets where the trade is open such as China, Korea, and Japan that are now receiving Chilean fruit”, he explained. “The US market has also become more competitive in terms of price,” he added.

Source: ITC Trade Map, Tridge

Fresh Fruit Chilean Products in Asia

According to ASOEX, from all of the fruit exports, 77% correspond to fresh fruit, 17% to process fruit, and 7% to dried fruits. Fresh fruits exports accounted for 1.9 million tons with a value of USD 3.776 million during the first six months of the year. Overall exports registered a 2% decrease in volume and a 2% increase in value compared to the same period last year. Fresh cherry exports were at 266,000 tons accounting for USD 1.28 million. Cherries had an 83% increase in volume and a 35% increase in value compared to the same period last year. The substantial increase in volume by cherries is driven by the growth in exports to the Chinese market.

Table grape shipments were at 530,000 tonnes accounting for USD 871 million, representing a decrease of 7% in volume and 16% decrease in value in relation to last year. Nevertheless, table grapes remain the largest market in the US with 47% of the export share, followed by China at 15%. Blueberries are in third place, with 96,000 tonnes shipped for a value of USD 484 million, registering an increase of 14% in volume and 15% in value. The main destinations for Chilean blueberries are the US with 49% of the share, the Netherlands with 19%, and the UK with 10%.

Apples would follow the list of most exported fresh fruit in Chile with export sales of 460,000 tonnes and USD 415 million in value. The US would also be the main market for apples with 14% of the export share, followed by India (13%), Colombia (9%), and the Netherlands (8%).

For all these fresh fruit products, Chile is one of the main global producers, along with other countries in the region such as Argentina and Peru. However, for Rodriguez, Chilean produce remains the one with the better quality. “With all the strong phytosanitary regulations requested today in most countries, Chilean fruit is more competitive than the other producing country ones for its quality,” he explained.

Significant Asian Markets

Asia is currently the region with the largest Chilean fruit imports, taking up 46% of the share regarding the overall destinations of Chilean fresh fruits. The US follows as the second with 24.10%, then Latin America with 14.1%, Canada with 1.3%, and the Middle East with 0.2%. Within the Asian region, the main importing countries of Chilean fresh fruits are China which holds 90% of the export share, followed by South Korea with 3.6% and Taiwan with 2.1%.

For ProChile, the foreign promotional agency for Chilean exports, Asia is the main region where most of the agency’s promotional efforts take place. For the last ten years, the entity has been implementing a market strategy penetration in the region’s main countries. The region is considered one of the largest food consumers with more than 4 billion inhabitants. So far, exports to China in key fresh products have been a success, as in cherries. However, the country aims to expand its exports to other important markets such as Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, and India.

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