A 28% increase in citrus exports for Chile is projected for the 2023 season, at an estimated 345,000 tons, according to the Citrus Committee of the Chilean Association of Fruit Exporters and Producers (ASOEX).
The season began the first week of April with shipments of clementines of the Oronules, Orogrande and Clemenules varieties from the Coquimbo region.
By the end of April, 270 tons were shipped from Valparaiso to the U.S.
In 2022, Chile exported 270,000 tons of citrus. This volume represented a 32% decrease from the previous year.
Navel oranges accounted for 30% of exports, lemons represented 21%, clementines 16% and mandarins 33%.
The Citrus Committee, an organization formed by the main citrus exporters in the country and representing 75% of Chile’s citrus exports, indicates exports will level off to a normal average season and it is expected that rains in Coquimbo, for example, will result in a good fruit size.
- Clementines are estimated at 55,000 tons.
- Mandarins would reach 125,000 tons.
- Oranges are projected to reach 90,000 tons.
- Lemons are estimated at 75,000 tons.