The intense frenzy for the cherry in Chile is not flagging. Surface areas saw a 22 % increase last year, and could increase by 10 % this year according to the USDA. Cherry orchards thus cover an area of 22 650 ha, mainly located in the O’Higgins and Maule regions (each with more than 8 000 ha). So production could this year reach 135 000 t (+ 32 % on 2015 and + 28 % on the three-year average), now that the El Niño phenomenon is over, whereas it slightly curbed the potential last year. Hence exports should bounce back, and could exceed 100 000 t once more. More than 80 % of volumes are aimed at China (67 800 t in 2015), far ahead of the United States (5 700 t), the number 2 destination for Chilean cherries. Shipments to the EU were no more than 2 500 t last campaign (4 000 t in 2014-15).
Sources: Odepa, Asoex, USDA, Infofruit
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