The ASOEX Cherry Committee released its first estimate for the 2022-2023 export season, estimating a growth in total shipments of 25% compared to the previous season. Thus, Chile will send 89,353,878 boxes of fresh cherries (5 kilos) to the world, equivalent to 446,769 tons.
This forecast gathers data provided between September 27 and October 6, 2022, so there may be some changes during the season, which will be reported by the entity in due time.
It should be noted that the Committee's members represent 85.21 TP3T of the total fresh cherry exports that left Chile for the world last year.
“Last season was one of the most complicated that the fresh fruit export sector in our country has experienced, for this reason, we have been working with the Ministry of Agriculture, the SAG, the Chinese authorities, our producers and exporters to be able to resolve any problem that may arise in this new season, promptly and in a coordinated manner. China will continue to be the main destination market for our cherries, but we will continue to diversify our exports to other markets of interest,” Iván Marambio, president of ASOEX, told Simfruit.
He added: “This will be a season in which we will set another record in export volumes and for this we have worked with China on a protocol that will allow us to ensure better exports, as well as we have discussed with all the actors in the logistics chain, public and private, the solutions that are necessary to generate faster and more expeditious processes. Likewise, we have proposed to our authorities that, in order to ensure that exports of perishable products, such as our fruits, are not affected by logistical setbacks, they be prioritized, thus contributing to the food security of Chile and the world.”
For his part, the president of the Cherry Committee, Cristián Tagle, highlighted the quality of the fruit: “We have had, in general, good weather conditions, so we will have very good quality fruit. As a Committee, we have prepared ourselves thoroughly in various areas to continue improving the quality and safety of our shipments. Fortunately, we have observed a slight upturn in the performance of the logistics chain, which we hope will be reflected in better condition and confidence for our cherries in the markets.”
Tagle commented that, during this 2022-2023 campaign, exports will continue to be boosted with strong promotional programs, which include a mix of marketing actions, especially in China, but also in other markets such as the United States, Korea, Thailand, India and Vietnam.
Finally, Claudia Soler, the Committee Manager, indicated that, according to the information provided, exports are expected to begin in week 43 and should continue until week 7. Soler recalled that, during the last season, Chile exported 356,348 tons of fresh cherries. Of this amount, China received 313,237 tons.
