Mandarin export Southern Hemisphere to grow 8% in 2010

Mandarin export Southern Hemisphere to grow 8% in 2010

It is estimated that Chilean shipments will remain similar to last year. Argentina's exports to date, experience a decline, which will be offset by an increase in South Africa and Peru.

iQonsulting released its first report on the export of mandarins in the Southern Hemisphere, which this year presented an increase of 8 percent in total supply, recording 342,800 tonnes compared with 317,000 tons from 2009-according to estimates made on April 13.

In particular, Chile exported one percent more than in 2009 (that year 27,680 tons were exported) totalling 27,922 tonnes. In the case of South Africa shipments reached 112,500 tons, registering a rise of 10 percent compared with the previous year (102,000tons).

The greatest increase is in the hands of Peru, a country which exported 37 percent more than last year, recording shipments of nearly 57,000 tons versus 41,300 tons in 2009.

iQonsulting specified that the increase in volumes of Peruvian exports "is a greater supply of Satsumas (34,300 tons) early in the European markets and in the late stage increased availability of tangelos (22,600 tons). In the case of South Africa, the increase in supply would be greater for clementines (45,863 tons). "

The increase from South Africa and Peru will compensate a drop of 3.9 percent from Argentina, which recorded exports of 110,000 tons compared to 114,400 tonnes in 2009.

In the case of Uruguay, the increase would be 12 percent to approximately 35,500 tonnes versus 31,600 tonnes last year.

In the case of Chile's fruit observed in the Region IV usually with large sizes and good colour. "The only concern with exporters - iQonsulting says," is that the accumulation of soluble solids was not like last year when there was a higher concentration than in other seasons. This could affect the first exports to Japan which requires a minimum of sugar and divert a larger volume to the United States if the fruit is in the colour and size as the market demands. "

In regions V, VI and Metropolitan area, the quality of the fruit is best seen with larger calibres, due to lower production. Here, one of the potential problems could be the number of seeds per fruit, because cross-pollination with other citrus fruits, which would limit exports to the United States.