End of the 2020 Season: Chilean citrus exports grow by 10%

From Fresh Plaza | 12 November 2020

Overview of the Chilean citrus season, complemented by charts from Agronometrics. Original published on November 12, 2020. 

According to the Citrus Committee of Chile ASOEX, the country exported a total of 368,000 tons of citrus fruits during the 2020 season, i.e. 10% more than in the previous season.

The United States received 85% of total shipments, while the Far East and Europe received 9% and 3%, respectively. Canada, Latin America, and the Middle East received lower volumes.

Orange exports account for 24% of all citrus exports; lemon export for 25%; mandarins 36%; clementines 14%, and grapefruits 1%.

Volumes (in KG) of citrus from Chile in the US market
chart2B 2B2020 11 12T132208.783

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

Juan Enrique Ortuzar, the president of the Citrus Committee, said that the 2020 season had been very satisfactory. “We have met and exceeded most of our initial estimates, which is very remarkable in the context of the pandemic and all the associated operational difficulties it entails.”

The outlook for the 2020 season is favorable, he added. “We can face this new season with less uncertainty and have more optimistic projections thanks to the increase in rains there was this year in the Central Zone and the increase in water in the reservoirs of the Norte Chico.”

Exports by species

Chile exported 133,245 tons of mandarins, i.e. 43% more than in the 2019 season. 94% of them were sent to the US market.

The country exported 88,319 tons of oranges, i.e. 7% less than in the previous season. The US was the main destination market with 92% of shipments.

Volume (in KG) of oranges from Chile in the US market
chart2B 2B2020 11 12T132831.458

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

Lemon exports increased by 2% and totaled 92,220 tons. 58% of the lemons were exported to the US, 32% went to the Far East, 10% to Europe, and the remaining to Latin America and Canada.

Volume (in KG) of lemons from Chile in the US market
chart2B 2B2020 11 12T133343.527

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

Clementine exports increased by 3%, reaching almost 52,000 tons. Their main destination market was the US.

Volume (in KG) of clementines from Chile in the US market
chart2B 2B2020 11 12T133721.045

Source: USDA Market News via Agronometrics.
(Agronometrics users can view this chart with live updates here)

Chinese market

One of the great milestones that the sector achieved this year was the opening of the Chinese market. According to Ortuzar, even though the volume shipped to this market accounts for less than 5% of total shipments, this season marked the beginning of a learning process in that market and a business relationship that will mature and thrive for years to come.

Chile exported a total of 1,031 tons of mandarins, 404 tons of oranges, 26 tons of clementines, and 5,650 tons of lemons to China.

The News in Charts is a collection of stories from the industry complemented by charts from Agronometrics to help better tell their story.

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