Chile's apple exports have risen significantly this season but kiwifruit volumes are down, with final harvests expected in early May.

Market researcher iQonsulting reported a 38% rise in apple exports for the season until the end of March with total volumes of 200,000 metric tons (MT), as a result of high temperatures and thermal accumulation that brought fruit ripening periods forward.

The majority of apple collection will be finished this month, but some orchards will be harvested in early-May.

Kiwifruit orchards also ripened earlier this year, but a Chilean Kiwifruit Committee decision to only export fruit with higher soluble solids content meant export volumes were down 11% by the end of March to 9,700MT.

Despite the new higher standards which restricted kiwifruit sales this year, exports in April and May are expected to be higher than during the same period in 2010.

The market researcher forecasts fewer apple and kiwifruit stocks than usual will be available for export between June and December, with falls of 8% and 10% respectively.

Source: iQonsulting/ edited by www.freshfruitportal.com