[Press Release] Chinese Consumers to Enjoy Chilean Citrus for First Time This Season

June 09, 2020

Produce Report

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The recent opening of the Chinese market to Chilean citrus, according to the Chilean Citrus Committee of the Chilean Fruit Exporters Association (ASOEX), will allow the industry to diversify its export markets.

During week 22, the very first exports of citrus from Chile to China were made, which included 23 tons of clementines and 74 tons of lemons bound for the Port of Shanghai. These will be the first Chilean citrus fruits to arrive in the Asian country since the market opened last week.

For the Chilean citrus industry, access to China was eagerly awaited. According to Juan Enrique Ortúzar, president of the Chilean Citrus Committee of ASOEX, “We are pleased with the recent opening of the Chinese market for Chilean citrus, including oranges, clementines, mandarins and lemons, which we believe will be an important step forward in diversifying our global citrus exports.”

During the 2019 season, China imported almost 328,000 tons of citrus from the Southern Hemisphere, including oranges (51%), tangerines (36%), grapefruit (12%) and lemons (1%). According to Ortuzar, “China has proven to be an important importer of citrus from an array of origins, but we are confident that our exporters and growers will be able to arrive to this market with a high-quality, flavorsome and healthy citrus in line with the Chinese trade and consumer expectations.”

Despite the current circumstances, the industry, through the important efforts of the members of the committee, have decided to commit to the Chinese market and have agreed to invest in a pilot promotional campaign this season to promote the unique characteristics and availability of Chilean citrus as well as its health properties and high vitamin C content, through the use of social media, e-commerce and promotions with leading retailers.

Chile is the one-stop shop for everything fresh, offering more than 30 different species of fresh fruit, including lemons, clementines, mandarins, oranges and grapefruits, all of which are characterized by their distinctive color, flavor, firmness and aroma and available from May through November.