Chile forecasts another bumper export year

摘要

GIILE'S fresh fruit industry is expecting another record-etting export season, notwithstanding unanticipated ains in early November that drenched much of the cherry nd early apricot export deals and which set back the harvest time for most crops by seven to 10 days. Fresh fruit exports last season (2003/04) grew by 11 per cent to a record 217m cartons, led by a 28 per cent surge in volumes to the EU market, while the value of the fruit topped US1.75bn dollar. Industry leaders are expecting another 10per cent spurt in growth this 2004/05 season, and better profits, even after taking into consideration 30 per cent losses in the cherry and early apricot deal. A key factor in making this calculation, industry leaders say, is the exceptional strength of the 2004/05 table grape season. Chile supplies almost half the Northern Hemisphere's table grapes during winter months and more than 40 per cent of Chile's fruit exports are table grapes.