China opens Chilean citrus market

Negotiations between China and Chile began in November 2018 and have just ended with an agreement on exports of Chilean citrus to the Chinese market.

 

 

 

The agreement has just been signed in Beijing by Chile's Ambassador to China, Luis Schmidt, and the Minister of the General Directorate of Customs, Ni Yuefeng. Chile will be able to export different citrus fruits (oranges, clementines, mandarins, grapefruit, lemons) to China.

 

 

 

The total area of citrus in Chile is estimated at 22,860 hectares, of which 28.3% in the Metropolitan Region; 28.2% in Coquimbo; 24.6% in Valparaiso and 17% in O'Higgins.

 

 

 

In 2018 Chile exported 360 thousand tons of citrus fruits, of which 29.7% are mandarins, 27.8% are oranges, 23.8% are lemons and 17% are clementines. The main destination of exports was the United States with 311,000 tons (86.6%).