Chilean frozen blueberry exports have shown a 52% year-on-year rise for the period of September 2011 to January 2012, according to the latest crop report.

Chilean Blueberry Committee figures show shipments reached 7,200 metric tons (MT) with an average of 760MT a month between October and December, but with an increase to 2,800MT in January; a 3% rise over the same month for the previous season.

"The first week of February reached 700MT and if this trend continues, total exports for the month would reach similar levels to last year, when 2,800MT was achieved," the report said.

However, fresh blueberry exports in week 6 (Feb. 6) showed a decline in shipments compared with previous weeks due to rainfall in the south of Chile in week 5 (Jan. 31).

It is hoped that from now on volumes will remain at 3,000MT providing there isn't more rainfall.

The season is drawing to a close with two more weeks of significant shipments of between 2,500-3,000MT, before a descent in volumes in week 9 (Feb. 27).

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