Chilean citrus fruit exports fall slightly in 2024 season; industry players call for new markets

The United States is the primary export market for Chilean citrus fruits in the 2024 season, with significant exports of clementines, lemons, tangerines, and oranges. Japan is also a notable market for Chilean lemons. However, the season has seen reduced production due to drought in the Coquimbo region, which is home to 70% of Chile's citrus cultivation. The competitive pulse in the international market is led by southern hemisphere citrus producers, notably South Africa and Australia, with South Africa and Argentina being specific competitors for lemons. The Citrus Committee's manager has encouraged the industry to expand into new markets to mitigate competitive pressure.

According to the report, the United States is the largest export market for Chilean citrus fruits in the 2024 season, with exports of 50,400 tons of clementines, 60,500 tons of lemons, 129,000 tons of tangerines, and 97,600 tons of oranges. In addition, Japan is positioned as an important export market for Chilean lemons. Monserrat Valenzuela, manager of the Citrus Committee, said that at the beginning of the 2024 season, drought affected the harvest of citrus fruits, especially in the Coquimbo region (R. de In Coquimbo, rainfall began after the average harvest period, which led to a reduction in production. According to the Chilean Natural Resources Information Center (CIREN), the area of citrus fruit cultivation in Chile is 4,000 hectares, of which 70% is concentrated in the Coquimbo region. Valenzuela said that the competitive pressure on Chilean citrus fruits in the international market mainly comes from citrus fruit producers in the southern hemisphere, such as South ...