Chilean Apple and Pear Exports to Falter

SANTIAGO - Sep 17/02 - STAT -- Adverse weather has resulted in a reduced apple and pear harvest in Chile, with the result it will be hard for the country to maintain exports at last year's levels.

Reviewing the situation, the U.S. agricultural attache here said it appears apple exports will drop from 541,000 MT of fresh apples to around 500,000 MT; while processing apple exports drop from 344,600 to 340,060 MT.

The EU is Chile's largest apple export market as a whole, but the U.S. is the largest single country market. Under the new agreement which will come into effect January 2003, the tariff for apples should go down to 0% making Chilean apples more competitive.

This year's apple area is estimated at 35,090 hectares, with only 30,177 hectare harvested for am estimated 960,000 metric ton (MT) harvest. This is down from one million MT last year, but well above the estimated 760,000 MT harvested in the year 2000.

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