Saturation of the Chinese market threatens Chilean cherry prices

The Chilean cherry industry has experienced significant growth, driven mainly by the high demand in China. In this country, Chilean cherries are highly valued both for their quality and cultural relevance, as their consumption is associated with festivities such as the Chinese New Year, which will be celebrated on January 29.

However, recently there have been warnings about a possible overproduction of cherries, which has generated a saturation of the Chinese market and a consequent drop in prices. According to ProChile data, in 2024 cherry exports reached US$3,091 million, making it the main export product not related to copper or lithium. Of these exports, 93% are destined for China.

The president of the National Agricultural Society (SNA), Antonio Walker, pointed out that this year more than 115 million boxes of cherries are expected to be exported, which could aggravate the fall in prices. In view of this situation, he stressed the need for the Chilean industry to unite, learn lessons from this experience and seek to diversify its markets.

Despite the 50% drop in prices compared to the previous year, Walker is confident of a partial recovery for the dates close to the Chinese New Year, although he acknowledged that the price levels of previous years will not be reached.

Looking to the future, the agricultural leader emphasized that, in collaboration with ProChile, new opportunities will be sought in regions such as the Middle East, North Africa, India and Southeast Asia. In addition, it is planned to strengthen trade relations with Europe, the United States and Latin America to reduce dependence on the Chinese market and ensure the sustainability of the industry.

source: americaeconomia.com

photo: chile.travel