Forecast for Chilean blueberries revised upwards
The Chilean Blueberry Committee revised upward the export forecast for the 2023 / 2024 campaign in his last statement. The executive director of CBC, Andres Armstrong, He said the country is on track to export 80.000 tons of fresh blueberries this season, slightly below the 82.000 tons projected at the start of the campaign, but higher than the latest estimate of 73.500 tons, published in November.
This would mean a decrease of 8,5 percent compared to total shipments of 2022/2023.
Armstrong said it has been particularly difficult to predict export volumes this season due to weather conditions which led to slower crop development, “very concentrated” peak weeks and a longer conclusion to the season. “We will close the season with a better varietal mix and better fruit quality, which has allowed us to improve our competitiveness in destination markets,” Armstrong stated.
Air shipments are up nearly 200 percent this season, a clear indication that supply was outpaced demand in some weeks.
As of week 3, Chile had exported 61.664 tons of blueberries, 15,6 percent less than in the corresponding period of last season.
Regarding destinations, the US continues to be the main market, with 24.000 tons of blueberries, followed by Europe, Canada, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, in that order. The harvest in the Central-South zone of Chile, which represents the majority of exports, is coming to an end. “This area is what provides the volume of the peak period.
Between weeks 50 and 3, an average of 8.885 tonnes were shipped each week, with weeks 51 and 2 marking the highest shipments due to rescheduling of vessels from the previous week,” Armstrong said.
Meanwhile, the harvest is already underway in the southern zone, which supplies the final stage of the Chilean season. “There is a slight delay in harvest here, so we are expecting a slower and therefore longer end than last season, which had a more abrupt end,” Armstrong said. "These favorable conditions could allow more fresh fruit to be exported."
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