Chilean Citrus Committee releases revised forecast

Following the recent frosts and rains in Chile, the Citrus Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX) has revised its export projections for the 2023-24 season.

The committee estimates that Chile will export 348,000 tons of citrus, 30% more than last year, but 3% lower than the previous estimate made in May 2023, according to a news release. 

“The frost damage to citrus was quite limited, but there are some sectors of orchards that suffered damage, mainly in the O'Higgins region,” Juan Enrique Ortúzar, president of the Chilean Citrus Committee, said in the release. "Even though harvesting had to be stopped for a few days, we now have a guarantee of some water supply for this winter when irrigation canals must be cleaned. There were some orchards that suffered flooding because they were in low-lying areas, but nothing major.”

The first estimates this April indicated an export volume for clementines of 55,000 tons, 125,000 tons for mandarins, 95,000 tons for oranges and 75,000 tons for lemons, the release said. In May, the mandarin volume estimate was updated to 135,000 tons. The latest projection indicates a small increase in clementine volume to 58,000 tons and a decrease for mandarins to 125,000 tons. The orange estimate remains unchanged, while lemons have decreased to 70,000 tons, the release said.

Monserrat Valenzuela, manager of the Chilean Citrus Committee, said in the release that the estimated volumes will always have some fluctuations due to external factors such as weather, freight costs, logistics and market issues. The citrus committee is committed to updating estimates throughout the season, she said in the release.

The committee has a work plan (frost action manual) to prevent the export of frost-damaged fruit, according to the release. This includes the installation of thermographs in the orchards and the temporary suspension of harvesting in the affected orchards or sectors until the fruit is checked and it is confirmed that it complies with the corresponding export tolerances, Valenzuela said in the release.

 Through the week of June 19, clementine exports had reached 51,474 tons, which is 76% more than the same period of the 2022 season. Mandarin shipments are just starting, with 59 tons exported so far this season, the release said. Chile has shipped 11,014 tons of oranges, 45% more than the same period last season. Lemons are the only category with a slight decrease in season-to-date shipments, with an exported volume of 14,287 tons, a 5% decrease from last year.