MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Poor start for Chile's fruit export season

The Chilean 2005/06 fruit export season is undergoing a poor start because of out of time rainfall and the plunge of the US dollar against the Chilean peso which eroded competitiveness to the country's overseas sales.

According to Fedefurta CEO Juan Carlos Sepulveda, one of Chile's main exporters, table grape has been the most battered with a drop of 4.6 million less cases exported to United States, the most important market.

A similar situation has been suffered with avocados, with a drop of 3.6 million cases and nectarines, 1.5 million cases.

But climatic consequences are not the only challenge facing Chilean fruit producers. Lower international prices, a weaker US dollar, and if the exchange falls below the benchmark of 500 Chilean pesos to the greenback, "we're definitively in the red, loosing money", warned Mr. Sepulveda.

However Manuel Jose Alcaino from Decofrut was not so discouraging and although admitting the grape season has been delayed because of weather conditions, he believes the situation will improve in the coming weeks with a strong recovery in exported volumes.

"I'd guess the fruit season has been delayed two to three weeks", highlighted Mr. Alcaino.

Nevertheless export Chilean fruit export records show that cranberries and cherries are blooming and booming with shipments having surged 28.4% and 82.1%.

The peak of the Chilean fruit export season is in March.