A Chilean fruit industry analyst has forecast an "auspicious" season for the country's citrus crop, due to a combination of higher volumes and larger sizing.

Based on Expordata/ASOEX statistics, Andrea Betinyani Gálmez of Decofrut told www.freshfruitportal.com while exports to week 23 were up 125% at 35,850 metric tons (MT).

"Shipments started this year two to four weeks in advance, according to the type. The first lemons embarked during week 15, the first clementines were in week 16 and the first oranges were in week 22," Betinyani Gálmez said.

She said the amount of soft citrus exported in the season to week 23 was up 91% year-on-year, while an even sharper increase of 169% was seen for lemons. However, lemon exports are actually estimated to be down 3% for the season total.

During the period, lemons made up 45% of shipments and oranges were just 2% of the total.

"While forecast orange shipments are similar to last year, it is expected that exports of soft citrus will increase significantly this year, at around 13% in the case of clementines and 39% in mandarins," she said.

"On the other hand, this year across the board Chilean citrus will have optimal organoleptic quality and much larger sizes compared to 2015, the latter mainly due to the greater water availability left by El Niño in our country.

"The citrus season has so far developed smoothly, registering an adequate progress in harvests. The fall rains have helped reduce acidity in the fruit, keeping a good relation between soluble solids and acidity to date."

"In terms of markets, exports have mostly been focused on the United States which accounted for 78% of the total for the period. The country was followed by the Far East with 16% participation and then Europe and Latin America with 5% and 1% respectively.

"Early Chilean clementines and lemons have found a very favorable market in the U.S., where a combination of limited supply and strong demand has allowed for active sales and firm prices."

She said Japan's lemon stocks were actually higher than in 2015, and highlighted Chilean fruit was relatively new in the market and had to compete with U.S. and South African fruit which had lower prices year-on-year.

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