Posts Tagged “Chilean kiwifruit exports”
Chilean kiwifruit exports have shot up 16 percent this season, including product destined for the United States. Meanwhile, a full crop of avocados for exports is being reported from Chile.
The South American country has been struggling since 2012 when disease issues crippled the kiwi industry.
The Chilean Kiwifruit Committee reveals favorable growing and harvest conditions helped the industry achieve one of its key objectives: securing maturity across producing regions.
Growers delayed harvests a few days to increase yields and improve maturity. Favorable fall weather, including the absence of significant frosts and limited rainfall disruption, supported harvest operations.
Despite high quality across production areas, some growers reported a higher share of smaller fruit, due to a longer flowering period, which often leads to uneven fruit development.
The committee reports US demand has returned to historical levels after buyers adopted a more cautious approach in 2025 amid tariff uncertainty. European imports of Chilean kiwis have also increased, supported by lower availability of Greek fruit and quality challenges reported in that market.
Demand remains steady across Latin America, particularly in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina. Meanwhile, India continues to emerge as one of the most important growth markets for Chilean kiwifruit exports.
Avocado Exports
New Zealand is gearing up for a bumper crop of 7.8 million trays for the current 2026/27 season. But this larger-than-usual crop is also set to bring one of the largest export campaigns the sector has seen in recent years, with 4.8 million trays destined for international markets, according to local news outlet SunLive.
New Zealand Avocado reports estimates remain uncertain and are still subject to crop load, harvest timing, fruit quality and changing market conditions. However, if forecasts hold, shipments would approach record volumes set by the industry in 2021.
As a result, the industry has expanded its export plans, and with pack-out rates projected to rise up to 60 percent, the local market might see lower volumes than last year.
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.
Primland, a French marketer and grower projects the company’s Chilean kiwifruit will have a 20 percent yield increase for its green variety, which accounts for approximately 90 percent of the total volume, due primarily to favorable weather and orchard management.
Additionally, the water availability in Chile is contributing to excellent fruit quality this year.
The South American country remains one of the world’s key kiwifruit exporters, supplying the United States, Europe, and Asia when Northern Hemisphere production is out of season.
Alongside its traditional green varieties, Primland continues expanding its yellow-fleshed kiwi program. The Oscar® Gold variety currently accounts for about ten percent of its supply this season in Chile, but there’s room for growth due to the rise in yields, as well as new plantings.
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