The Chilean Exporters' Association (ASOEX) Table Grape Committee posted the 2023-24 season’s first estimate, with a projected 5% growth in exports.
Shipments for the upcoming season are estimated at 63,780,328 18 pound boxes, and 63% of that total will be of new varieties as the country looks to varietal transition to regain ground lost to Peru’s exponential expansion in the sector.
This projection is based on information provided by the committee's member companies, which represent 82% of the country's total table grape shipments.
"This growth is mainly due to an increase in the production of new varieties, which allows us to project that they will represent 63% of the country's total exports of fresh grapes this season, amounting to close to 40 million boxes,” says ASOEX President Iván Marambio.
Traditional varieties, including Red Globe, are expected to reach around 23.5 million boxes. This visible increase in new cultivars is in line with the committee's strategy to reach 70% of new varieties in total table grape shipments within the next two years.
“This first estimate clearly reflects the efforts that Chilean producers and exporters have made to have an offer of varieties with a greater attractiveness for the destination markets and consumers, which means important investment and management," Marambio adds.
The U.S. continues to be the main destination market for Chilean table grapes, despite multiple woes delaying the approval of the Systems Approach protocol for exports.
For the upcoming 2023-24 term, the U.S. is projected to take 56% of overall shipments, with Asia and Europe following with a 19% and 16% share, respectively.
As for color, the committee’s coordinator, Ignacio Caballero, notes that white grapes experienced the biggest growth.
“The color with the highest growth is white grapes, with an increase of 16% over the previous season, and where the growth of the Sweet Globe, Autumn Crisp and Arra 15 varieties stand out," he states.
Exports of white grape varieties are projected to be around 22.9 million boxes, of which 74.4% would be of new varieties. While shipments of red varieties are expected to exceed 24.9 million boxes, of which 74.1% would correspond to new varieties.
Timco, Allison and Sweet Celebration are set to stand up this next season among the red varieties.
As for black grapes, exports would be around 6 million boxes, with 76.5% of new black varieties, including Sale Seedless, Sweet Favors and Sweet Sapphire.
Caballero notes that the first shipments are scheduled for mid-November.
