Odepa (Chilean Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies) reported in its monthly bulletin that in the period January-February 2021, fruit exports reached 680.200 tons, for USD 2.307 million FOB.

Shipments registered an increase of 10% in volume and 13% in value compared to the same period of the previous year.

Of this total in value, 90% went to fresh fruit, 8% to processed fruit (juices, oils, canned, frozen, dehydrated), and 1.3% to dried fruits (walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, among others).

In the case of fresh fruit, it reached sales of 575 thousand tons, equivalent to USD 2.083 million FOB during January-February 2021.

These exports represented an increase in volume of 9%, and in value of 13% compared to the same period of the previous year.

Cherries and blueberries lead exports

Regarding the fruits that led exports in the period. Chilean cherries ranked first with 261.500 tons, equivalent to USD 1.350 million FOB, registering an increase of 81% in volume and 42% in value, compared to the same period of the previous year, mostly destined for China (concentrating 93% of the total value of cherry shipments).

In second place are blueberries, with 73.600 tons representing USD 387.6 million FOB, obtaining an increase in shipments of 11% in volume and 13% in value, compared to the same period of the previous year.

Among the main blueberry buyers were the United States, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (concentrating 43%, 24% and 10% respectively of the total value of blueberry shipments).

In third place, table grapes were located with 114.700 tons equivalent to USD 184.6 million FOB, registering a decrease of 21% in volume and 35% in value in relation to the same period of the previous year, and with shipments mainly to the United States. . (62%), and South Korea (11%).

According to Odepa, "these three species account for 92% of the total value of fresh fruit exported in the analyzed period."

Nut sales reach 5.460 tons

Sales of nuts according to Odepa totaled 5.460 tons equivalent to USD 29.350 million FOB in January-February 2021.

Compared to the same period in 2020, these values ​​represented an increase of 90% in volume and 62% in value. The main exported product in terms of value was the shelled walnut, which registered sales of 3.218 tons and USD 17.5 million FOB, representing 60% of the total shipments of nuts.

The main destination was Germany (18%), France (16%), Brazil (11%) and the Netherlands (10%).

It is followed in second place by shelled hazelnuts with sales of 790 tons, and USD 5.59 million FOB, representing 19% of total shipments of nuts, mainly destined for Italy (93%).

In third place, the shelled almond was located with sales of 579 tons and USD 3.58 million FOB, with shipments to Russia, Ecuador and Argentina (52%, 19%, and 13% respectively).

Regarding processed fruits, they reached sales of 99.700 tons equivalent to USD 193.9 million FOB in January-February 2021, which represented a growth in exports of 15% in volume and 10% in value, compared to the same period of the year previous.

The category with the greatest representativeness in value in the analysis period, said Odepa, were "frozen (39%), dehydrated (20%), juices (20%), and preserves (18%) and oils (3%)."

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