The 2026 Chilean kiwifruit season is underway with significant growth prospects. According to Carlos Cruzat, president of the Chilean Kiwi Committee, the country expects between 175,000 and 180,000 tons thanks to the start of production in new plantations and good fruit setting. “We believe that we are going to grow by 20% this year compared to the previous one,” he says, highlighting that production in 2025 stood at 147,000 tons.
The growth in production volumes doesn’t seem to be a cause for concern for the sector. Cruzat says that “the global kiwifruit market is very buoyant,” with demand “easily outstripping supply” for several seasons. Even demanding markets such as the United States or Europe have been absorbing a lot of fruit. “New Zealand shipped almost 15% more fruit to Europe, and it was nicely absorbed with very good prices,” he says.
“Factors such as the exchange rate or logistical costs are seen as more important than the increase in production, as these can have a greater impact on prices,” he says.