Forecast of the 2016-2017 season of Chilean blueberries

14/10/2016

The Committee of Cranberries of Chile informed that the 2016-2017 season expects to register an 3% growth in the export of blueberries, arriving to send to different markets 94.276 tons of the fruit. There was also an early start of two weeks compared to the previous season.

The report, made by iQonsulting together with the Committee of Blueberries, also indicates that the production of blueberries at national level will grow an 4,3%, going from generating 135.539 tons in the 2015 / 2016 season, to 141.404 tons in the current campaign.

Andrés Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, told Portalfruticola.com that "It is an early season, to date we have double the volume exported last year. Our growth projection, yes, is moderate. We are talking about 3% growth, companies are prioritizing quality and segmenting by markets".

He also noted that "There are new packaging technologies available in the country that will enable a better classification of the fruit by sizes, greater productivity and less impact on the condition".

According to the report, the leading region in export of blueberries will be the Maule region, which would send a total of 31.650 tons in the current season, increasing by an 35% its estimate with respect to the exported the previous season. In second place is the Bío Bío region, with a total of 28.240 tons projected, although showing a fall of 4% with respect to last season; and then, the Araucanía Region, which has an export projection of 9.797 tons of blueberries.

Regarding promotional campaigns, the Executive Director of the Blueberry Committee says that they are working hand in hand with ProChile in the main markets.

"The actions focus on the peak of arrivals of our fruit that goes from the end of December to the middle of March. The markets where we will do these promotions are the United States and Canada in North America; United Kingdom, Germany, France and Italy in Europe; and China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan in Asia".

With the growing demand for this berrie and more on-the-road production expected to have a greater impact on volume over the next year, Armstrong says that the industry has been strengthening and that is mainly reflected in the incorporation of more companies to the Committee.

"Now we have 48 companies, which means an important support to the work of the Committee and its associated companies that with the support of public funds, promotes consumption and develops markets around the world".

We took advantage of asking about the possible rains that would arrive this weekend to Chile, and Armstrong said that "the rains in harvest periods are always a problem, what this weekend will depend on the phonological state of the plants and the area. Although it should not affect mainly".

Frozen blueberries

During the last season, there was a total of 135.539 tons of blueberries. Of this, an 67,5% were exports of fresh blueberries, translated in 91.422 tons. While a 25,7% was in frozen format.

In this respect, and due to the high stock that the USA has. in frozen blueberries, Armstrong says that "These high volumes could have an impact on frozen prices. Now, Chile has developed alternative markets both fresh and frozen, which puts us in a position that offers more and better alternatives for domestic production".

Source: Fruit Portal