Tangerine/mandarin production in Chile is forecast to increase in 2023–24 while orange production is expected to decline, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS) reported.
TANGERINES/MANDARINS
Production of tangerines and mandarins is projected to increase by 7.1% and total 287,000 metric tons (MT).
Mandarin planted area is expected to increase nearly 1,000 hectares and reach 12,000 hectares in 2023–24. Due to high profits, mandarin acreage grew significantly in the past 10 years. The Coquimbo region is the top mandarin-producing region in Chile, holding 5,309 hectares and representing 47.4% of planted area.
Exports are projected to increase by 7.3% in 2023–24, totaling 250,000 MT. The top export market is the United States, which receives 95% of Chilean mandarin exports.
Chilean import volume of mandarins is low compared to exports. In 2022–23 (data until October), Chile imported 483 MT of mandarins. Peru is the top supplier of mandarins with 36.6% market share followed by the United States with 30.6% market share.
ORANGES
Orange production in Chile is projected to decrease by 2.2% and total 175,000 MT.
Orange acreage is expected to drop 1% to 6,300 hectares. In 2011–12, orange area planted totaled 7,389 hectares but gradually decreased as producers shifted to more profitable mandarins and lemons. The Metropolitana region remains the top orange-producing region in Chile with 39.3% of the orange acreage.
Chilean exports of oranges are projected to decrease by 5.5% and total 90,000 MT in 2023–24 due to the decrease in production and high competition in international markets. The largest market for Chilean oranges is the United States, which takes 93% of total exports.
Chile imported 370 MT of oranges in 2022–23, a 9.1% decrease from the prior year. The United States was the top supplier of oranges with 99% market share.
See the full USDA FAS report on Chilean citrus here.
Source: USDA FAS