Chilean table grape production is projected to increase by 22 percent, reaching 805,000 tons in 2021/22, according to a USDA GAIN report.
This increase in production is associated with increased production of new varieties planted in recent years and a return to more normalized climatic conditions.
In 2020/21, rainfall during the last week of January 2021 damaged the table crop that was ready for harvest, resulting in a decrease in production of 15.3 percent, reaching only 664,700 tons.
It is estimated that domestic consumption will reach 165,300 tons in 2021/22 (20.4 percent of production), representing an increase of 18 percent when compared to the previous season.
In 2020/21 table grape exports decreased by 13.1 percent in volume totaling 525,419 tons, this decline is mainly attributed to the decline in production from the damaged caused by the rainfall in January 2021. Table grape export value decreased by 10.8 percent totaling $826.1 million.
It is estimated that grape exports will total 645,000 tons in 2021/2022, a 22.8 increase compared to the previous season, assuming production bounces back after the setback caused by the rainfall in January 2021.
The U.S. remains the main destination for Chilean table grapes accounting for 48.5 percent of exports. In 2020/21 table grape exports to the U.S. totaled 254,811 tons, a 7.5 percent decrease when compared to the previous season.
China is the second destination for Chilean grapes, totaling 78,117 tons in 2020/21, a decrease of 30.1 percent when compared to the previous season.
