Chilean Prunes - Brief Market Update

The Chilean Prune harvest season is due to begin around mid-February, approximately a week later than last year. The total 2022 crop is forecasted to be around 87,000 tons – with a total bearing hectare estimated at 12,500. 2022 Crop has been seen to bloom well and had good growing conditions so far, with few issues that will drastically affect availability and yield. Sun damage is estimated to have caused 3,000kg of wastage this season. Export to Asia of fresh Prunes is predicted to be around the 40/45,000 tons figure, leading to a conversion of 12,000 tons of dried Prunes. Previous information pointed to a crop yield of around 70,000 tons, and out of this crop total marketable dried Prune material should be around 84% of this original figure. This would mean leaving 59,000 tons available for export.

Due to last year’s crop figure and demand through 2021, it is widely anticipated that 2021 crop carry over will be an all-time low record. This will influence 2022 availability and pricing throughout the years trading to come.