The Chilean cherry industry may have seen monumental export growth last season, but a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report has forecast volumes flat for the coming campaign.

The report said exports almost doubled year-on-year during the 2017-18 season to reach 184,741 metric tons (MT), but it estimated that during the next deal they would remain at 185,000MT due to a decrease in yield offset by an increase in planted area.

Total production last year was 205,741MT.

The industry was able to achieve record production and exports last year thanks in part to "very favorable" climatic conditions with enough rainfall during the winter, high average temperatures during the spring, and absence of rainfall during the harvest months (from November to January).

"Yields in MY2018/19 could be slightly lower than the previous marketing year since optimal conditions are unlikely to repeat and trees usually have some fall in yield year over year after a highly productive campaign.

"Nevertheless, Post expects production MY2018/19 estimates 209,000 MT taking into account that the planted area keeps growing but that there could be a slight fall in yields."

The report also said cherries remain among the most planted fruit in Chile due to its high profits and increasing demand from China, where 85% of cherries are shipped. 

The southern Maule and O'Higgins regions collectively produce four-fifths of the country's cherry production. Cherry trees planted area grew steadily at a 10.2 percent rate surpassing 30,000 hectares in 2017-18. 

The report estimates that 88% of total production is exported, 9% is consumed domestically, and 3% is processed.