Chilean cherry shipments to China surge 

Chilean fruit exports were up by 1% in volume and 4% in value during the first 4 months of 2021, compared to the same period in 2020, with China the main market for the goods. Total fruit shipments reached 1.45 million tons and were worth just over US$3.5 billion FOB, according to data published by the Chilean Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (PASO). Three products (cherry, grapes and blueberries) accounted for 83% of the total value of fresh fruit exports.

The most remarkable growth was recorded for Chile’s cherry exports (266,000 tons, $1.3bn FOB), which soared by 83% in volume and 41% in value, compared to the same period in the previous year. China accounts for 93% of the total value of Chile’s cherry exports.

However, shipments of table grapes, Chile’s second export fruit, fell by 18% in volume and  25% in value, totalling 436,000 tons, worth $693 million FOB. The main destination market remains the US (52%).

In third place came blueberries, with 96,000 tons, equivalent to $478 million FOB. This figures represented a rise in exports of 14% in volume and 13% in value, compared to the same period of 2020. The main destinations are the US (49%), the Netherlands (20%) and the UK (10%).