Chile's fruit exports showed a 5.8% year-on-year rise reaching 2.6 million tons (MT) for 2011, according to figures from the Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (ODEPA).

Cherry exports showed a massive 46.6% rise reaching 64,668MT shipped, followed by plums at 35.7% (100,927MT) and blueberries at 34% (73,741MT).

Other high performing fruit exports included oranges (18.7%) and pears (14.9%) along with nectarines (13.5%), grapes (9.3%), lemons (3.7%) and peaches (2.8 %).

"Virtually every type of fruit recorded a growth in export volumes as a result of favorable weather conditions during periods of pre-harvest and harvest of the 2010-2011 season, which allowed expression of production and export potential," the organization reported.

Dried fruit exports grew by 36.3% in volume in 2011 relative to 2010.

Nuts with shell exports climbed with walnuts up by 38.4% and hazelnuts showing a massive 126.9% leap.

Shell-less almond exports rose by 41%, with fresh chesnuts increasing by 240%.

Apples, kiwifruit and avocados were the only fruit which dropped in exports by 4.3%, 1.8% and 5.1% respecitvely. Apples achieved 800,834MT in exports, kiwifruit 178,566MT and avocados 102,373MT.

The U.S. continued as Chile's main market accounting for 34% of its exports increasing its imports by 1.8%.

Other important markets included The Netherlands, as the gateway to Europe, and Colomia which emerged as the fifth export destination accounting for 4% of Chile's exports.

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