Chilean citrus exports to fall 3% in 2019

Chile’s 2019 citrus exports are expected to fall by 3%, with the largest drop recorded for clementines. According to ASOEX, clementine volumes are forecast to be down 8% to 58,000 tons, while orange exports will also drop 3% to 97,000 tons. Lemon (88,000 tons) and mandarin exports are set to remain stable. Despite the forecasts, ASOEX expects very good calibre and quality, thanks to favourable growing conditions. One of the main causes of the drop in exports is the high availability of citrus in the markets of the Northern Hemisphere, particularly in the US and Europe, which are traditionally key destinations for Chilean citrus.