According to the Fruit Bulletin for October 2020 published by the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies of Chile (Odepa), between January and September fruit exports totaled 2.84 million tons and 5.36 billion dollars FOB, registering a year-on-year fall of 5% in volume and 10% in value. 74% of the value corresponded to fresh fruit, 18% to processed fruit (juices, oils, canned, frozen, and dehydrated products), and 8% to nuts.
Fresh fruit shipments totaled 2.29 million tons (-6%) and US $ 3.979 billion FOB (-11%) in that period. In this category, the main fruits exported were grapes, with 600,700 tons (-7%) and 1.012 billion dollars FOB (-19%). Their main destinations were China and the US, which accounted for 17% and 46% of the total value of grape exports, respectively. They were followed by cherries, with 145,000 tons (+ 6%) and 953 million FOB dollars (-7%), with China as the main destination with 94% of the exported cherries. Apples ranked third with 609 tons (-6%) and 530 million dollars FOB (-11%), and with shipments mainly to the US (11%), Colombia (10%), and Saudi Arabia (with 9% of the total value of apples).
These three species, together with blueberries, accounted for 73% of the total value of fresh fruit exports in the analyzed period. The country exported 94,000 tons (-20%) of nuts worth 420.6 million dollars FOB (-17%) between January and September 2020. Exports of walnut in shell accounted for 37% of shipments with 56,600 tons and 155 million dollars FOB. Its main destinations were Turkey (18%), India (17%), and Italy (12%). It was followed by shelled walnuts, which accounted for 32% of shipments with 18,300 tons and 135 million dollars FOB. Their main destinations were Germany (27%), Italy and Spain (10% each). Shelled hazelnuts ranked third with 10,600 tons and 91.6 million dollars FOB. Italy was their main destination with 91% of shipments.
Finally, the processed fruit category totaled 462,600 tons (-1%) and 960 million dollars FOB (-0.5%) between January and September 2020. Frozen products accounted for 38% of exports in this category, followed by dehydrated (24%) and canned products (20%), juices (12%), and oils (5%). Compared to the same period of the previous year, there was an increase in sales of frozen foods and oils. This information does not include the Value Variation Report (IVV) because it can be adjusted up to six months after the date of the shipment declaration.