Chile’s exports of peaches, nectarine, plums and aprictos will rise 20% in the 2010-11 season, totaling about 200,000 tons, according to estimates from iQonsulting, a fruit industry consultancy.

The increase is “a return to normal production, after 2009, when weather conditions were not favorable for fruit production.” Therefore, all types of fruit will have increased export volume compared with last season.

As of week 42, the orchards for these fruits were in the thinning stage and flowering and falling were occurring without problems. The estimates indicate that the harvest should begin with the earliest varieties of peaches in week 45.

Shipments of stonefruit from South Africa will be similar to those of last year, but the main worry for exporters is the unfavorable exchange rate.

According to the iQonsulting report, the exchange rate not only will affect shipments to its main destination – Europe – but also to the Middle East, a market that has taken a large volume of stonefruit. Exports for South Africa have started, with limited air shipments to the United Kingdom.

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com